Broadbills: Eurylaimidae - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, African Broadbill (smithornis Capensis): Species Accounts, Black-and-red Broadbill (cymbirhynchus Macrorhynchos): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, BROADBILL
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Broadbills are found in sub-Saharan Africa, Himalayan portions of India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, far southern China (also Hainan Island), Borneo, Sumatra, Java, peninsular Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Broadbills inhabit mostly humid tropical and subtropical lowlands (including evergreen or mostly evergreen broad-leaved lowland forests), while a few species are located in montane (mountain) forests and one species is found in dry climates. They move with the change of seasons to mountain areas when food becomes scarce.
Most broadbills eat insects, but some of the larger species also eat small vertebrates (animals with a backbone) such as lizards, frogs, small crabs, and small fish, and fruits such as figs. Foods are foraged from leaves or branches, caught while in flight, or captured on the ground.
People hunt broadbills for their colorful plumage in order to sell them within the pet industry.
Three broadbill species are listed on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable, facing a high risk of extinction, due to deforestation, mining, and human warfare in their very small ranges. Three other species are listed as Near Threatened, in danger of becoming threatened with extinction.
Additional Topics
Broadbills are small- to medium-sized, stockily built birds with large eyes; a broad bill (from which they get the name) that is rounded along its sides, flattened from front to back, hooked at the end, and with a wide gap; rounded wings; a rather short, square tail (except for one species with a fine-pointed tail); short legs; strong, syndactylous (sin-DACK-tuh-lus; with fused digits) feet; and l…
The behavior and reproduction habits of broadbills are not known very well. The birds are generally arboreal (live in trees) and are believed to be mostly monogamous (muh-NAH-guh-mus; having one mate), but some species may be polygamous (puh-LIH-guh-mus; having more than one mate). Broadbills join single or mixed species flocks, but avian experts do not know whether the birds remain in one territo…
Physical characteristics: African broadbills are stocky, short-tailed birds with a distinctive broad, flat bill. They have a brownish head and upperparts, and buffy underparts that are streaked with blackish colors. Males have a black crown (top of head), gray lower nape (back of neck), black upper mandible (top part of the bill) and whitish lower mandible (bottom part), and reddish brown upperpar…
Physical characteristics: Black-and-red broadbills are beautiful crimson and black birds. They have a black head, back, and tail feathers; crimson red underparts, rump, and throat; black wings with a white narrow stripe; and a bill that is pale blue on top and yellow below. Adults are 8.3 to 9.4 inches (21 to 24 centimeters) long and weigh between 1.8 and 2.7 ounces (50.0 and 76.5 grams). Geograph…
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