Hose's Broadbill

Hose's Broadbill was first described by Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1892, named in honor of Charles Hose, a British colonial officer and naturalist who conducted extensive zoological research in Sarawak, Borneo. As a member of the family Eurylaimidae, this species represents the specialized evolution of broadbills within the dense, humid montane forests of Borneo, where its distinct, cryptic green plumage serves as an essential adaptation for camouflage amidst the high-canopy vegetation.

The species is noted for its exceptionally rounded wing and tail morphology, a design trait that facilitates the short, agile bursts of flight required for navigating the mid-canopy strata. While it lacks the vibrant iridescence of its relative, the Green Broadbill, its discovery was significant to late-19th-century ornithology, helping researchers define the taxonomic boundaries of the Calyptomena genus. It remains a subject of great interest to naturalists today due to its restricted range and the specific habitat requirements of the Bornean highlands.