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A photo of a Blyth's Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus), male
Blyth's Hornbill, Male

Blyth's Hornbill

Rhyticeros plicatus

Blyth's hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus), also known as the Papuan hornbill, is a large hornbill inhabiting the forest canopy in Wallacea and Melanesia. Its local name in Tok Pisin is kokomo. Previously, this hornbill was placed in the genus Aceros. It has often been lumped with the plain-pouched hornbill (R. subruficollis), and sometimes considered to include the Narcondam hornbill (R. narcondami) and the wreathed hornbill (R. undulatus) as subspecies. Up to 91 cm in length, the adult male has mainly black plumage with a golden or orange-buff head, white throat and a white tail. Its irises are reddish brown, and the eye is surrounded by naked pale blue skin. The female is a smaller, mainly black bird with a white throat and tail. Both sexes have a very large horn-coloured bill and casque. Young birds of both sexes resemble the male. Adults have up to eight folds on the pale casque, depending on age, while young birds have none. In flight the sound of its wings is loud and distinctive, a rushing noise that has been compared to the sound of steam escaping from a steam locomotive. It has a range of far-reaching, guttural grunting and laughing calls.
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Blyth's Hornbills on Birda

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Rafael Lerch
Rafael Lerch
Sunday 23 Jul 2023 - 8:49am
Solomon Islands
A map showing the sighting location
🐦
Edward Clifford
Monday 01 Jan 1900 - 12:00am
Papua New Guinea
A map showing the sighting location
🦢
Jamie BT
Monday 01 Jan 1900 - 12:00am
Papua New Guinea
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