Features

Diversity

Broadbills are placed in the order Passeriformes , suborder Eurylaimi and family Eurylaimidae . 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 ).

Broadbills are small to medium sized birds with a big head, a wide bill and often bright coloration (greens, reds, blues, etc.). They are primarily forest birds and live in rainforests of tropical Asia and Africa. Little is known about the mating behavior 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.

Geographic Range

Broadtails live in the Ethiopian and Oriental regions. They are found mainly in tropical southeast Asia (from the Himalayas, southern China and the Philippines to Indonesia) and Africa.

Habitat

Broadbills are primary and secondary tropical forest species. Many species are found in the forest interior, but some are found in more open areas such as scrub, coastal bush, tree plantations and cultivated areas. They are often found near rivers and streams and live from sea level to 2550 m.

  • Aquatic Biomes
  • rivers and streams

Physical Description

Broadbills are small to medium sized birds; they are 11.5 to 28.5 cm long and weigh 43 to 117 g. They have a large head, a wide, flat, hooked bill, large eyes and a large gape. The structure of the bill depends largely on the species’ diet. Many broadbills have bright coloration (greens, blues, reds and yellows) which actually helps them blend in with the surrounding habitat. Members of Smithornithinae resemble flycatchers and have brown streaky coloration. Members of Calyptomeninae have primarily green plumage with black markings; males have iridescence. They also have loral plumes that extend over their bill making the bill appear smaller. Members of Pseudocalyptomeninae look similar to those in Calyptomeninae but have a longer tail and no loral plumes. The members of Eurylaiminae are variable in their plumage; the wattled broadbills have an eye ring of large blue wattles. Males and females are similar in some species and dimorphic in others. Sometimes males and females have different coloration, but the difference is usually subtle. Where sexual dimorphism exists, females are duller than males. Juveniles look similar to adults but are duller and have shorter wings and tails.

  • Sexual Dimorphism
  • sexes alike
  • sexes colored or patterned differently
  • male more colorful
  • ornamentation

Reproduction

Some species of broadbill are thought to be monogamous; others polygynous (with a lek system) and still others may be cooperative breeders. Males of many species perform displays and courtship feeding. Male green broadbills ( Calyptomena viridis ) have a spinning display; others have displays that involve head bobbing, wing flapping and feather fluffing. Members of Smithorninae have display flights in which their primary wing feathers make a buzzing sound that can be heard from more than 60 meters away.

Generally broadbills prefer to breed in the dry season. However, some may breed year-round. Nests are pear shaped with a side opening and are built hanging from small branches and extend over open areas, often over water. They are from 3 to 30 m above the ground (3 to 10 m on average). This nest placement protects the eggs and young from mammalian and reptilian predators, but makes them vulnerable to strong wind. Nests are made of grass, twigs, leaves, moss and roots, and are lined with green leaves, small roots and grassy fibers. They can have a long dangling tail made of vegetation and are often covered with leaves, moss and other materials; these decorations help camouflage the nest. Nests take from 5 days to 7 weeks to construct. In some species both the males and females help build the nests, in others just the female, and in others there are helpers-at-the-nest. Observations have been made of groups of up to twenty dusky broadbills ( Corydon sumatranus ) building a single nest. Sometimes nests are built in thorny trees or near wasps and bees that presumably provide some protection to the birds. Broadbills will re-use nests from year to year.

Clutch size ranges from 1 to 8 eggs, but usually only 2 to 3 young are raised per brood. Eggs are 19 to 37 mm by 14 to 25 mm and may range from oval to elongated in shape. They may be glossy to matte, white to pale pink and may or may not have spots. Incubation lasts 17 to 18 days and the chicks fledge in 22 to 23 days. Broadbills are occasionally hosts to parasitic cuckoos (family Cuculidae ).

The roles of the sexes in incubating and raising young are not well known. Incubation lasts 17 to 18 days and the altricial chicks fledge in 22 to 23 days. Adults will feign injury to draw predators away from the nest. Young are fed mainly invertebrates and post-fledgling dependency lasts more than 20 weeks in some species. At least three species are suspected to have helpers-at-the-nest.

Lifespan/Longevity

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.

Behavior

Broadbills tend to be resident species. However, they commonly make altitudinal movements as seasons change and in dry seasons they may move beyond their normal range in search of food. A few species are nomadic and move around in search of fruiting trees; generally fruit-eating species are more nomadic than insectivores. Broadbills tend to show crepuscular activity patterns.

Although they are frequently found in pairs, broadbills also tend to be quite gregarious and are often found in small feeding flocks. Groups are not normally larger than 25 individuals. Broadbills seem to be territorial during the breeding season and their display flights may serve as both breeding and territorial displays. They may also defend small patches of fruit.

Broadbills often bathe in puddles and streams.

Communication and Perception

Broadbills are not known for having melodic or complex songs. They have a variety of calls usually described as whistles, rattles, trills, squeaks or screams. They call most often during the early morning and late afternoon. Calls are used in courtship, as alarm signals and for contact between mates. Broadbills often call more frequently when in groups. Members of the genus Smithornis have stiff outer primary feathers that make a buzzing sound (or wing trill) during display flights. The buzz is often louder than their calls and can be heard from 60 meters away. The wing buzz is used in courtship and territorial defense.

Broadbills also communicate using a variety of mating and territorial displays. Green broadbills ( Calyptomena viridis ) have a particularly notable spinning display.

Food Habits

Most broadbills are insectivores. They catch insects while flying, glean them from vegetation or dart out from perches in a manner similar to flycatchers (family Muscicapidae ). They are opportunistic feeders, and commonly eat Orthoptera (grasshoppers and relatives), Coleoptera (beetles), Hemiptera (true bugs and relatives), Hymenoptera (wasps, bees and ants) and Isoptera (termites). Less frequently they will also eat Diplopoda (millipedes), Araneae (spiders), snails ( Gastropoda ), crabs ( Decapoda ), tree frogs ( Anura ), lizards ( Sauria ) and fish ( Actinopterygii ). Three broadbill species are frugivores and their bill structure reflects the dietary differences. The frugivorous species lack the wide bill of the insectivores, but maintain the wide gape. Because of this modification they are not able to easily manipulate the fruit with their bills and so they are forced to eat relatively soft fruits and/or to swallow the fruit whole. Figs are an important food source for fruit-eating broadbills. Frugivores will often catch insects to feed their young during the breeding season.

Predation

Nests are built hanging from small branches and extend over open areas, often over water. This is thought to be an adaptation to deter mammalian and reptilian predators. Sometimes nests are also built in thorny trees or near wasps and bees that presumably provide some protection to the birds. Adults will feign injury to draw predators away from their nest.

Ecosystem Roles

Broadbills play an important part in controlling invertebrate populations throughout their range. They also aid in seed dispersal. Broadbills are also hosts to parasitic cuckoos (family Cuculidae ).

  • Ecosystem Impact
  • disperses seeds

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Broadbills disperse seeds of plants that are eaten by humans. Broadbills themselves are also eaten by humans. Because of their colorful appearance, they are sometimes sold in the pet trade and are sought out in the wild by tourists. They also play an important part in controlling invertebrate populations throughout their range.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no known adverse affects of broadbills on humans.

Conservation Status

Broadbills live in lowland rainforest that is rapidly disappearing. The loss of habitat due to increases in agriculture combined with their poor ability to adapt to disturbance leaves broadbills in a vulnerable position. The IUCN lists three species of broadbill as vulnerable (visayan broadbill ( Eurylaimus samarensis ), wattled broadbill ( Eurylaimus steerii ) and Grauer’s broadbill ( Pseudocalyptomena graueri )) and three as near threatened (Hose’s broadbill ( Calyptomena hosii ), green broadbill ( Calyptomena viridis ) and black-and-yellow broadbill ( Eurylaimus ochromalus )).

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Alaine Camfield (author), Animal Diversity Web.

Kari Kirschbaum (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

oriental

found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.

World Map

native range

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

Ethiopian

living in sub-Saharan Africa (south of 30 degrees north) and Madagascar.

World Map

native range

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

tropical

the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.

terrestrial

Living on the ground.

forest

forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.

rainforest

rainforests, both temperate and tropical, are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground. Epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant. Precipitation is typically not limiting, but may be somewhat seasonal.

scrub forest

scrub forests develop in areas that experience dry seasons.

agricultural

living in landscapes dominated by human agriculture.

riparian

Referring to something living or located adjacent to a waterbody (usually, but not always, a river or stream).

sexual ornamentation

one of the sexes (usually males) has special physical structures used in courting the other sex or fighting the same sex. For example: antlers, elongated tails, special spurs.

monogamous

Having one mate at a time.

polygynous

having more than one female as a mate at one time

cooperative breeder

helpers provide assistance in raising young that are not their own

iteroparous

offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).

seasonal breeding

breeding is confined to a particular season

year-round breeding

breeding takes place throughout the year

sexual

reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female

fertilization

union of egg and spermatozoan

internal fertilization

fertilization takes place within the female's body

oviparous

reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.

altricial

young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.

male parental care

parental care is carried out by males

female parental care

parental care is carried out by females

arboreal

Referring to an animal that lives in trees; tree-climbing.

crepuscular

active at dawn and dusk

motile

having the capacity to move from one place to another.

nomadic

generally wanders from place to place, usually within a well-defined range.

sedentary

remains in the same area

solitary

lives alone

territorial

defends an area within the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the same species and held through overt defense, display, or advertisement

social

associates with others of its species; forms social groups.

visual

uses sight to communicate

acoustic

uses sound to communicate

pet trade

the business of buying and selling animals for people to keep in their homes as pets.

food

A substance that provides both nutrients and energy to a living thing.

ecotourism

humans benefit economically by promoting tourism that focuses on the appreciation of natural areas or animals. Ecotourism implies that there are existing programs that profit from the appreciation of natural areas or animals.

carnivore

an animal that mainly eats meat

insectivore

An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.

herbivore

An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.

frugivore

an animal that mainly eats fruit

endothermic

animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.

bilateral symmetry

having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

visual

uses sight to communicate

tactile

uses touch to communicate

acoustic

uses sound to communicate

chemical

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

References

Bruce, M. 2003. Family Eurylaimidae. Handbook of the Birds of the World , Vol. 8. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.

Campbell, B., E. Lack. 1985. A Dictionary of Birds . Vermillion: Buteo Books.

Dickinson, E. 2003. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of Birds of the World, 3rd edition . London: Christopher Helm.

Gill, F. 1995. Ornithology, Second Edition . New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.

IUCN, 2002. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" (On-line). Accessed September 19, 2003 at http://www.redlist.org/ .

Lambert, F., M. Woodcock. 1996. Pittas, Broadbills and Asities . Sussex: Pica Press.

Payne, R. 2003. "Bird Families of the World" (On-line). Accessed September 19, 2003 at http://www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/birds/Bird_Families_of_the_World.html .

Sibley, C., J. Ahlquist. 1990. Phylogeny and Classification of Birds, A study in Molecular Evolution . New Haven: Yale University Press.

Wells, D. 1985. Broadbills. Pp. 306-307 in The Encyclopedia of Birds . New York: Facts on File Publications.

To cite this page: Camfield, A. 2004. "Eurylaimidae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed {%B %d, %Y} at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Eurylaimidae/

Last updated: 2004-09-05 / Generated: 2025-09-21 20:20

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