Broadbill (family Eurylaimidae)

BirdTropicalForest

Overview

Broadbills (family Eurylaimidae) are small, plump, large-headed birds of the tropical forests of Africa and Asia, named for their wide, flattened bills and broad mouths. Many are gorgeously coloured — in greens, yellows, reds, blues, blacks, and whites — like the silver-breasted broadbill and the green-and-black long-tailed broadbill. Their rounded bodies, big eyes, and bright plumage give them a plush, almost toy-like charm.

Broadbills are best known for two things: that wide gape, useful for snapping up insects and other food, and the elaborate hanging nests they build — and, in some species, a curious whirring or buzzing sound the males produce with specially modified wing feathers.

Note: “broadbill” covers a family of species; details here describe the group broadly. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Broadbills live in tropical forests of sub-Saharan Africa and of South and Southeast Asia, mostly in humid lowland and hill rainforest, with some in montane forest. They keep to the mid- and lower levels of dense forest and forest edge, where their colours can be surprisingly hard to spot among the foliage, and they often stay near streams or damp areas.

Diet

Most broadbills are mainly insectivores, using their wide gape to catch insects and other small invertebrates among the foliage and in the air, and several also eat fruit; a few are largely frugivorous, and some take small frogs or lizards. The broad mouth helps them engulf sizeable insects, and they often hunt by perching and then sallying out to grab prey.

Behavior

Broadbills tend to be quiet, rather sluggish perchers that can sit still for long periods, which — together with the dim forest light — makes them easy to overlook despite their bright colours. They are famous nest-builders: many weave elaborate, bulky, pear-shaped hanging nests with a side entrance and an untidy “tail” of trailing material, usually suspended from a branch over a stream or clearing for protection. In some species, displaying males produce a distinctive mechanical whirring, buzzing, or trilling sound using specially stiffened wing feathers, adding a percussive element to their courtship. Broadbills are often seen in pairs or small groups.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Broadbills are a delight for birdwatchers, prized for their colours and their remarkable hanging nests, and they are harmless, beneficial insect-eaters. Because they depend on tropical forest, deforestation and habitat fragmentation are the main threats, and some species — particularly those with small ranges or in heavily logged regions — are of conservation concern, while others remain reasonably common. Conserving forest helps them. Consult the IUCN Red List for species-specific status.

More photos of the broadbill