The species is endemic to montane regions in north, central, and southeastern Borneo, where it mostly occurs in forests at elevations of 600–1,220 m (1,970–4,000 ft).

Omnivorous, it mainly feeds on fruit like figs and berries, supplementing its diet with insects and leaf buds.

Breeding occurs from April to October, with clutches of 2–4 eggs being laid in delicate hanging nests.

It is classified as being near-threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to a moderately rapid decline in its population caused by habitat destruction.

Hose's broadbill was described as Calyptomena hosii by the British naturalist Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1892 based on specimens collected from Mount Dulit, Borneo.

Calyptomena is one of two genera in the family Calyptomenidae, the other being Smithornis, a genus of three rather dull-coloured species found in Africa.

Although species-level relationships within the family are unclear, both the genera are monophyletic (including all descendants of a common ancestor) taxa that are sister (most closely related) to each other.

[8][9] Endemic to the island of Borneo, Hose's broadbill inhabits the northern and central parts of the island, where it is found discontinuously from Mount Kinabalu to the Müller Mountains, Kayan Mentarang, the Dulit Range, the Sambaliung Mountains, and the Sangkulirang Peninsula.

It has been recorded eating soft, greyish-yellow berries and small orange figs covered with short, spiky hairs.

[8] Hose's broadbill is classified as being near-threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to its a moderately rapid decline in its population caused by habitat destruction at lower altitudes in its range.

Lowland logging in its range has been extensive, but the species' preference for montane habitats may protect it in the short term.