:quality(80))
Papuan hornbill
The Papuan hornbill is an impressive forest bird native to New Guinea and nearby islands, where it inhabits lowland rainforests, swamp forests, and forest edges. With its large dark body, pale bill, and distinctive casque, it is one of the most recognisable hornbills in Australasia. Females are often browner than males, adding to the species’ subtle sexual dimorphism.
You can find our Papuan hornbill in the aviary in the Oriental Garden.
Class:
Aves
Order:
Bucerotiformes
Family:
Bucerotidae
About the Papuan hornbill
Papuan hornbills are primarily frugivores, feeding on a wide variety of rainforest fruits. They also take insects and small animals, especially when raising young. As major seed dispersers, they play an essential ecological role in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems by transporting seeds across long distances.
These hornbills are usually seen in pairs or small family groups. Like other hornbills, they exhibit a unique breeding behaviour: the female seals herself inside a tree cavity using mud and fruit pulp, leaving only a narrow slit through which the male passes food while she incubates the eggs. This remarkable system helps protect the nest from predators.
Conservation
The Papuan hornbill is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but faces local pressures from deforestation and hunting across New Guinea and surrounding islands. Loss of mature rainforest trees reduces available nesting cavities, while hunting affects populations in some regions. Protecting intact forests is key to safeguarding this important frugivore and the ecosystems it supports.