Species profile
Papuan Hornbill
Rhyticeros plicatus
Quick answer
Range Biak, Numfor (M. Halaouate in litt. 2021), Yapen. Status Unclear. Presence on Biak is enigmatic. Neither of us has observed the species there despite numerous visits. However, several observers have recorded this very distinctive species. 15 August 1995: two, southern Biak (C. Eastwood, eBird checklist S 67701811); 30 October 2003: unknown number, Warafri area (S. Myers, eBird checklist S 70322018); Bengtsson (2007) saw several and noted they might be escapees; 26 September 2017: eight in the Oridek area (S. Lorenz, eBird checklist S 39398502); 26 June 2019: three in flight (T. Deininger, eBird checklist S 58672426); 30 June 2019: one (Goh Soon Kit, eBird checklist S 57804552). M. Halaouate (in litt. 2021) was informed that three hornbills had escaped from the Biak Birdpark and later saw two in flight; he also observed four on nearby Numfor in 2004. KDB found this species moderately common on nearby Yapen in 2016 ‒ 17. It appears that the birds on Biak are escapees from captivity, although over-water arrival from Numfor or Yapen is possible.
- Scientific name
- Rhyticeros plicatus
- Family
- Bucerotidae
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Genus
- Rhyticeros
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
Recording Papuan Hornbill in your journal
When you see this bird, log the sighting with the date, the place and any photos. If it's your first, Feather Journal marks it as a lifer and adds it to your life list automatically — no spreadsheet, no re-typing.
Related species in Bucerotidae
- African Grey Hornbill (Lophoceros nasutus)
- Austen's Brown Hornbill (Anorrhinus austeni)
- Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus)
- Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill (Bycanistes subcylindricus)
- Black-casqued Hornbill (Ceratogymna atrata)
- Bradfield's Hornbill (Lophoceros bradfieldi)
- Brown-cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes cylindricus)
- Buceros bisulcatus (Buceros bisulcatus)