Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Blyth's Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus), male
Blyth's Hornbill, Male

Blyth's Hornbill

Rhyticeros plicatus

The Blyth's hornbill, also known as the Papuan hornbill, is a magnificent avian species, Rhyticeros plicatus, that graces the forest canopy with its presence in Wallacea and Melanesia. Named in honor of the esteemed English zoologist Edward Blyth, this bird is a true marvel of nature. The adult male is a striking figure with predominantly black plumage, complemented by a golden or orange-buff head, a white throat, and a white tail that contrasts sharply with its dark body. The female, slightly smaller in stature, shares the black plumage and white accents of the throat and tail. Both sexes boast a very large horn-coloured bill and casque, a distinctive feature of hornbills. The casque of the adults is adorned with up to eight folds, a testament to their age, while the juveniles display none.

Identification Tips

When observing Blyth's hornbill, look for the large size and the contrasting colors of the head, throat, and tail. The male's golden head and the female's smaller size can help differentiate between the sexes. The casque on the bill is also a key identification feature, with the number of folds indicating the bird's maturity.

Habitat

Blyth's hornbill is a denizen of the lowland forests, where it can be found from sea level up to elevations of 1,200–1,500 meters above sea level.

Distribution

This species has a broad range, extending through the Moluccas, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and reaching as far east as the Solomon Islands. It is the sole hornbill species native to New Guinea and is among the largest flying birds in the region.

Behaviour

In flight, the Blyth's hornbill is known for the loud and distinctive rushing noise produced by its wings, reminiscent of steam escaping from a locomotive. Its repertoire of sounds includes a variety of far-reaching, guttural grunts and laughs that carry through the forest.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of the Blyth's hornbill are as impressive as its appearance, with a range of deep, resonant calls that echo through the trees.

Breeding

The breeding habits of the Blyth's hornbill involve the female being sealed within a tree hollow high above the ground, where she remains throughout incubation and nestling periods. The male dutifully feeds her through a narrow aperture, and the typical clutch consists of about two eggs.

Similar Species

While there are no similar species within its range, the Blyth's hornbill has been historically lumped with the plain-pouched hornbill and considered to include the Narcondam hornbill and the wreathed hornbill as subspecies.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Blyth's hornbill is predominantly frugivorous, with a particular fondness for figs. However, it also supplements its diet with insects and other small animals when the opportunity arises.

Conservation Status

The Blyth's hornbill is currently assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Despite being widespread, it faces hunting pressures in some regions, where its feathers, bill, and mandible are used by local tribes for adornment and tools. However, it has endured human hunting for millennia, and as long as its habitat remains intact, hunting alone is unlikely to pose a significant threat.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Blyth's Hornbills on Birda

Sightings
A map showing the sighting location
πŸ’
Vaidhussen Acbarly
02 Oct 2024 - 7:14pm
Indonesia

More Hornbills

A photo of a Rufous-necked Hornbill (Aceros nipalensis) , male

Rufous-necked Hornbill

Aceros nipalensis
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Robred 2
Fun way to add to your birdwatching experience
I enjoy watching birds in my backyard, but this app helped me really pay attention while on vacation this summer. It was fun to add new birds to my bird watching app.
Amylia S
Best app for any birding person!
I love this app!! I am so addicted to it when I saw it had 3 star review I was so sad! The app is awesome!! The best app for any birding person! ❀️
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
Leonie
We've been waiting for an App like this
Excellent! We've been waiting for an app like this! Thank you! It would be nice if you could assign additional birds to sessions later!
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vidsπŸ¦‰πŸ¦…
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright Β© 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.