Broadbills
Eurylaimidae
Malaysia & Thailand
The Eurylaimidae are a family of suboscine passerine birds that occur from the eastern Himalayas to Indonesia and the Philippines. The family previously included the sapayoa from the Neotropics, the asities from Madagascar, and the Calyptomenidae from Africa, but these are now separated into distinct families. Many of the species are brightly coloured birds that present broad heads, large eyes and a hooked, flat and broad beak. They range from 13 to 28 cms in length, and live in the dense canopies of wet forests, allowing them to hide despite their brightly coloured plumage. The plumage of the juvenile eurylaimids are similar to those of the adults, differing in being duller and shorter-winged and shorter-tailed in some cases. They are for the most part insectivorous and carnivorous.
Eurylaimids feed on a broad variety of insects and invertebrates, especially large orthopterans and mantids, as well as small vertebrates (frogs, lizards, and even fish). Exceptionally, Grauer’s Broadbill Pseudocalyptomena graueri appears to be primarily frugivorous. Most broadbills acquire food by gleaning or during short sallying flights from perches.
There are four subfamilies of broadbills: Smithornithinae (typical African broadbills), Calyptomeninae (Asian green broadbills), Eurylaiminae (assorted Asian broadbills) and Pseudocalyptomeninae (Grauer’s broadbill). There are 9 genera and 14 species of broadbills. They are thought to be closely related to pittas (Pittidae) and asities (Philepittidae). They are primarily forest birds and live in rainforests of tropical Asia and Africa. Little is known about the mating behaviour of this group. Some species are thought to be monogamous, others polygynous and some may be cooperative breeders. During displays, many broadbills make a loud trilling sound with their wings that can be heard up to 60 m away. Most species are gregarious. Some species eat primarily insects while others mainly eat fruit. Here we will see a collection of the Eurylaiminae (assorted Asian broadbills).
The strikingly patterned broadbills of Asia featured here are forest canopy birds, often revealed only by their throaty staccato calls. The bold contrasting swatches of black, yellow, and red or green in their plumage often extend into a very large and brightly coloured blue or silver bill, creating a visual impact to equal that of any other passerine in these forests. Their distinctive baglike nests are suspended by a long vine or tendril far beneath overhanging branches, and often over water or near a bee or wasp nest to protect the nest from tree-bound predators. As with the green broadbills, these Asian birds have a cousin in Africa with very different appearance, but we know very little about it.
They attach their purse-shaped nests to suspended vines, and leave a tail of fibres hanging below it. This gives the nest the appearance of being random debris caught in the tree, an effect further enhanced by the birds covering the nest with lichen and spider webs. Talk about camouflage! I have illustrated in a photo with the Silver-breasted Broadbill.
Based on banding recaptures, broadbills are estimated to live at least 6 years in the wild. The oldest recorded bird in captivity was 19 years old.
Conservation: Six out of 15 species are on the IUCN Red List. Three species are considered Vulnerable and three Near Threatened. With no more than 10,000 individuals each, the vulnerable species all have tiny ranges that are threatened by deforestation, mining activities, and/or guerilla warfare (on Mindanao, Philippines). Deforestation of lowland forest threatens Hose's, White-head's and Black-and-yellow (Eurylaimus ochromalus) broadbills.
Large areas of the wooded habitats of Asia have been harvested or converted to agriculture, creating conservation concerns for four (44%) eurylaimid species (1 NT, 3 VU). The three vulnerable species occupy very restricted ranges in the Philippines or in the Albertine Rift mountains of Africa, and the near-threatened species is limited to three areas in the Malay Archipelago.
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Black-and-red broadbill (Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos siamensis)
The black-and-red broadbill (Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos) is a species of bird in the family Eurylaimidae. It is monotypic within the genus Cymbirhynchus. It is found in Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
An utterly unmistakable inhabitant of waterside and riverine lowland evergreen forests, mangroves, and plantations. Midnight black with long white slashes on each wing, wine-red underparts, and a black chinstrap. Bulbous bill is glowingly powder-blue with warm tinges of orange and greenish-yellow. During the breeding season, the pendulous nests of this species can be quite obvious, hanging over forested waterways. Voice is nasal and generally unpleasant-sounding, consisting of odd low mechanical rasps.
Status: Least Concern
The Black-and-red was hitherto treated as conspecific with C. affinis which see considerable individual variation throughout most of its range; clinal trend apparent in certain characters, such as increase in size and decrease in amount of white in tail from N to S, but no constant differences between populations; variation in characters requires further study. Proposed race siamensis (mainland S to S Thailand) inseparable from malaccensis; both lemniscatus (Sumatra, Bangka & Belitung) and tenebrosus (SE Sumatra) included in nominate. Two subspecies recognized.
Featured here is the subspecies Black-and-red Broadbill (Black-and-red) and not the Black-and-red Broadbill (Irrawaddy). The Black-and-red Broadbill can be found from Tenasserim (southern Myanmar), northern most Peninsular Malaysia (Perlis and Phatthalung) & southern Thailand, east into Cambodia, southern Laos, and southern Vietnam.
The Black-and-red (Irrawaddy) however is confined to southwest Myanmar, in the Irrawaddy Delta, Arakan Yomas, and South Arakan, especially on small islands and along the coast. There are only a few recent records, making its current status is rather uncertain.
Not globally threatened and occurs in several protected areas across Thailand, Vietnam & Malaysia. It was formerly very common to abundant, but has decreased considerably and now generally rare in N of range following lowland deforestation. As with many forest species, it is vulnerable to disturbance, and has been affected by hunting in Thai-Malay Peninsula; nevertheless, it is able to survive if some suitable habitat mosaics near water remain.
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Silver-breasted Broadbill (Serilophus lunatus atrestus)
The silver-breasted broadbill (Serilophus lunatus) is a species of bird in the broadbill family, Eurylaimidae. It is monotypic (the only species) within the genus Serilophus. There are ten currently recognised subspecies, one of which, rubropygius, was formerly treated as a separate species.
It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. The species has declined somewhat due to habitat loss, but is not considered to be threatened with extinction.
A small quiet bird with a distinctly silky, smooth-feathered appearance. Pale below and warm soft brown above with a black crescent above the eye and a glossy blue patch on the dark wings. Usually moves around through the middle layers of foothill and montane forest. Does not often join mixed-species foraging flocks, instead tending to stick to medium-sized groups of its own species. Gives a smooth, fluid ‘tee-LEE!’
Status: Least Concern
There are two subspecies - Silver-breasted Broadbill (Gray-browed) & Silver-breasted Broadbill (Silver-breasted).
The Gray-browed is found in Northeast India, Bhutan and northeast Bangladesh east to western and northeastern Myanmar (Arakan, Chin Hills and upper Chindwin east to the Irrawaddy). Although the type locality is Nepal, it is now believed to be extinct there.
The Silver-breasted Broadbill (Silver-breasted), featured here, is found in Central and eastern Myanmar (south of the Bhamo, east of the Irrawaddy) and southern China (southwest Yunnan) south to northeast Thailand, central and southern (lowland) Laos, and northwest Vietnam (West Tonkin). It resembles both the nominate subspecies and rothschildi, but differs from the latter in having lores tinged rusty (not black), and the sides of head and upperparts distinctly paler and brighter.
The silver-breasted broadbill occupies a range of forest habitats. It occurs in tropical and semi-tropical forests, as well as semi-deciduous forests and forests dominated by pine, oak and bamboo. It may occur in selectively logged forests and even entered agricultural land and gardens. It occurs at a range of elevations across its range; between 800–2,000 metres (2,600–6,600 ft) in Sumatra but 300–700 m (980–2,300 ft) in China.
This too like the Black-and-red is not globally threatened and was formerly considered very common over most of its range; now it is disappearing or becoming uncommon to scarce over large areas, although still locally common where suitable habitat remains. Occurs in several protected areas throughout its range from SW China, Thailand, and Vietnam. Uncommon in N Thailand, but fairly common in other areas of that country, where it is still supplied to the domestic cage-bird markets; numbers are much reduced in Indochina, although it is still being found in new localities; very rare in China. Uncommon to locally common in Peninsular Malaysia (where it is considered Near Threatened) and on Sumatra.
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Banded Broadbill (Banded)(Eurylaimus javanicus friedmanni)
The banded broadbill (Eurylaimus javanicus) is a species of bird in the family Eurylaimidae. It is found in Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is a large broadbill (21.5–23 cm), with purple, yellow and black plumage. It eats predominantly insects, including grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, various beetles, caterpillars and larvae.
It is a deep purplish-red broadbill with bold yellow patches on the wings and tail. Broad-based bill and irises are bright blue. Female is slightly duller than the male, and lacks a black line across the chest. Favours riparian and wet forests from the lowlands up into montane areas, & will visit edges, gardens, and parks. Forages in the canopy, often flying from a perch to do so. More vocal than Black-and-yellow Broadbill, giving long, drawn-out whistles and buzzing trills.
Status: Near Threatened
Here too there are two:
The Banded Broadbill (Banded) featured here which was hitherto considered conspecific with E. javanicus, although long recognized as a potential split. Races friedmanni & pallidus frequently lumped into nominate but without firm arguments, so further study is required; birds from Belitung I are named as race billitonis, but identical to some of nominate race. Four subspecies currently recognized.
The Banded Broadbill (Javan) which was hitherto treated as conspecific with E. harterti, although long recognized as a potential split, differing in its smaller size; yellow vs blue iris; narrower breastband of male; yellow vs purplish vent; paler, more evenly coloured lower breast to belly, lacking strong purplish colour and monotypic.
The Banded Broadbill (Banded) featured here can be found in South-east Myanmar, southern Thailand (south to Isthmus of Kra), and southern Indochina. It is not globally threatened but uncommon or locally common in Indochina, rare in N Thailand; locally common in suitable habitat in S part of range, but rare in NW Borneo (Brunei) and C & E Java. Treated as Near Threatened in Peninsular Malaysia. It occurs in several protected areas in Thailand, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Earlier accounts indicate that this broadbill has long been locally common, uncommon or scarce through most of its range.
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Black-and-yellow Broadbill (Eurylaimus ochromalus)
The black-and-yellow broadbill (Eurylaimus ochromalus) is a species of bird in the family Eurylaimidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
An utterly unmistakable bird in its costume of black, white, yellow, and pink with a wide, deep-based bill, typical of the broadbills, is bright blue. It forages at middle to high levels in lowland and hill forests, frequently moving with mixed-species flocks and sallying out from a perch. Song is disproportionately loud, a series of high-pitched coos that increases in pitch and speed, turning into a maddened series of loud whistles. Frequently gives a jay-like “jeer!” call. The black-and-yellow broadbill could be mistaken for its cousin, the Banded broadbill, featured above, due to their similar colouring of black wings with yellow markings and bright blue beaks. However, the black-and-yellow (Eurylaimus ochromalus) has a pink chest and yellow belly, a black head, and a white collar.
Status: Near Threatened
The black-and-yellow broadbill calls in the background while I was recording this Spoladea recurvalis moth found commonly in the tropics.
A small, distinctive broadbill with black, white, pink and yellow plumage. The male has black head and upperparts , a broad white collar , conspicuous bold yellow markings on back and wings; a blackish tail, yellowish spots on central feathers, whiter spots on outer ones; a black breastband , and rest of the underparts vinaceous-pink , fading to pale yellow on belly and undertail-coverts; a pale yellow iris and its bill a bright turquoise to cobalt-blue, green tip of upper mandible, black cutting edges; legs and feet horn-pink to bluish. The female has a breastband broken in centre . while the Juvenile lacks the distinct breastband, has pale yellow supercilium and greyish-white underparts.
It is found in a wide range of forest types, including evergreen forest, mixed dipterocarp forest, heath-forest, swamp-forest (both freshwater and coastal), forest edge, secondary growth, also overgrown plantations, including cocoa, rubber and Albizia; adapts to logged forest and secondary habitats where large trees remain. To 700 m in Myanmar, Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia, to 900 m in Sumatra and to c. 1220 m in Borneo.
This too is not globally threatened but currently considered Near-threatened. It occurs in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, and in Sumatra. Originally thought to be common to abundant throughout its range, & still considered locally common wherever suitable habitat remains. In Borneo, a study in primary forest near Kuching (Sarawak) indicated a population density of 10 birds/km², and recent reports from Sabah suggest that the species survives well in logged forest. Habitat destruction within its range has been severe and extensive, with lowland forest drastically reduced and expected to have been destroyed completely within less than a decade. Despite its tolerance of secondary habitats, the species seems likely to survive in the long term only in protected parts of its range and in higher-lying forested areas.
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