Luzon hornbill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Luzon hornbill |
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| A male Luzon hornbill | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Penelopides
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| Species: |
manillae
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| Synonyms | |
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Penelopides panini manillae |
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The Luzon hornbill (Penelopides manillae) is a special bird found only in the Philippines. It lives in the forests of Luzon island and some nearby smaller islands. This bird is also sometimes called the Luzon tarictic hornbill. It belongs to the hornbill family, known for their unique beaks.
About the Luzon Hornbill
The Luzon hornbill is a type of hornbill bird. It is found only in the Philippines, meaning it is endemic to this country. You can spot it in the forests of Luzon and other islands nearby in the northern part of the Philippines.
Scientists used to think all Philippine tarictic hornbills were the same kind. But now, they know the Luzon hornbill is its own unique species.
Naming the Luzon Hornbill
A French scientist named Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon first described this bird in 1780. He wrote about it in his book, Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux. Another person, François-Nicolas Martinet, drew pictures of the bird for the book.
Later, in 1783, a Dutch scientist named Pieter Boddaert gave the bird its scientific name. He called it Buceros manillae. The name manillae comes from Manila, a city in the Philippines.
Today, the Luzon hornbill is part of the genus called Penelopides. This name was given by a German scientist, Ludwig Reichenbach, in 1849. The name Penelopides might mean "almost like a crest."
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the Luzon hornbill. One is found in many places. The other, called subniger, lives on Polillo and Patnanongan islands. People sometimes hunt these birds for food. However, there is a ban in place to protect them from hunting.
Luzon Hornbills in Zoos
You can find Luzon hornbills in zoos around the world. For example, Bird Paradise in Singapore has some of these birds. They have even successfully bred them there.
Safari World in Thailand also has Luzon hornbills. Several zoos in the Philippines have also had success in breeding them.
Outside of Asia, you can find Luzon hornbills in zoos in Berlin and Frankfurt in Germany. The Berlin Zoo has the more common subspecies. The Frankfurt Zoo has a pair of the subniger subspecies.
Gallery
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Male Luzon hornbill
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Male Luzon hornbill
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Male Luzon hornbill
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Female Luzon hornbill
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Skeleton of a Luzon hornbill
