Green Broadbill

Overview

The green broadbill (Calyptomena viridis) is a small bird in the family Calyptomenidae, also known as the Asian or lesser green broadbill. It is currently classified as Near Threatened due to sensitivity to habitat loss and degradation.

Identification

• Approximately 17 cm long with brilliant green plumage providing excellent camouflage.
• Features a rounded head, short tail, and a widely gaped bill that is very weak and almost hidden by the crest above it.
• Males possess a black ear patch and three black bars on each wing, whereas females are duller with no black markings on the ear patch or wing coverts.

Habitat

Found in broadleaved evergreen forests across Borneo, Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula. The species frequents lowland and lower montane rainforest environments.

Diet

Feeds largely on soft figs, a habit that helps distribute the seeds of the fig around the forest floor. The bird typically lays between two and three whitish eggs, with young fledgeing after twenty-two to twenty-three days.

Did you know?

The bird is often overlooked because it sits motionless inside the canopy or just below it, relying on its foliage-green coloration for camouflage and quickly flying to a new location only if disturbed.