Rhyticeros plicatus
The Blyth's Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus) is a magnificent, large forest bird, typically measuring 65-85 cm (26-33 inches) in length, with a wingspan that can exceed 1.5 meters. Adults exhibit striking sexual dimorphism: males boast a glossy black body, a bright white tail, and a yellowish to rufous-orange head and neck, crowned with a prominent, rugose, pale yellow casque atop a reddish-based, pale yellow bill. Females, in contrast, are entirely black, including the head and neck, and posse...
Found primarily in tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, favoring primary or mature secondary growth. It occurs from lowlands up to approximately 1800 meters (6000 feet) elevation, though it is more common below 1200 meters.
Their diet is predominantly frugivorous, with a strong preference for figs (Ficus species), making them vital seed dispersers. They also opportunistically consume other fruits, insects, crabs, and small vertebrates, especially during the breeding season.
Blyth's Hornbills are diurnal birds, frequently observed in pairs or small family groups, occasionally forming larger communal roosts at night or gathering at abundant fruiting trees. Their foraging strategy is predominantly arboreal; they skillfully glean fruits directly from branches or pluck t...
The Blyth's Hornbill has a wide distribution across eastern Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. It is found throughout the main island of New Guinea (both Indonesian Papua and Papua New Guinea) and many of its numerous satellite islands. Its range extends east across the Bismarck Arch...
Least Concern
- The female Blyth's Hornbill seals herself completely inside a tree hollow during nesting, using mud, wood pulp, and her own droppings, leaving only a narrow vertical slit for communication and feeding. - During her solitary confinement, the male diligently feeds her and later the chicks through...