Green Broadbill

Green Broadbill

Lesser Green broadbill, Lesser green broadbill

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Calyptomena viridis
Population size
Unknown
Life Span
6-19 years
Weight
43-73
1.5-2.6
goz
g oz 
Length
17
7
cminch
cm inch 

The green broadbill (Calyptomena viridis ) also known as the lesser green broadbill is a small bird in the family Calyptomenidae. It was formerly classified in the family Eurylaimidae, a group of closely related birds that share the name "broadbill".

Appearance

The Green broadbill is a small bird in the broadbill family and can be identified by means of its vibrant green plumage. The males and the females of this species look different. Males have a black dot behind their ears and black bands across their wings, females have feathers of a duller green and no black markings.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Subcontinents
Biogeographical realms

The Green broadbill occurs in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand, on the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula, in lowland forests of broadleaved evergreen and lower montane rainforest.

Green Broadbill habitat map

Climate zones

Green Broadbill habitat map
Green Broadbill
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Habits and Lifestyle

Little is known about the social behavior of Green broadbills. It is very hard to notice them as they sit motionless within the canopy or just beneath it, flying quickly to a new location when disturbed. Their foliage-green coloring provides excellent camouflage. Broadbills generally are resident species; however, they often travel to a different altitude as seasons change, in dry seasons sometimes moving beyond their normal range when searching for food. Some species are nomadic in their search for fruiting trees; generally, species that eat fruit are more nomadic than those that eat insects. This suggests that Green broadbills exhibit such nomadism, according to the seasonality of fruiting trees. Broadbills are usually active in the morning and in the evening.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Green broadbills are herbivores and mainly eat fruits, especially figs. They may also consume some vegetables.

Mating Habits

REPRODUCTION SEASON
Myanmar: February-April, Malay Peninsula: after heavy rains of early northeast monsoon, Thailand: March-June
INDEPENDENT AGE
22-23 days
BABY NAME
chick
web.animal_clutch_size
2-3 eggs

Little is known about the mating system of Green broadbills. Broadbills may exhibit either a monogamous mating system (one male mates with one female exclusively) or polygynous (with a lek system) when one male mates with multiple females. The breeding season is known to occur from February to April in Myanmar, after the heavy rains of the early part of the northeast monsoon (major period of rainfall activity) in the Malay Peninsula and from March to June in Thailand. Male green broadbills perform a spinning courtship display. During the mating season, females weave a long, tubular nest from grasses in which to rear their offspring. A typical nest has 2-3 cream or yellow eggs. Young fledge at 22 to 23 days.

Population

Population threats

The main threat to this species is ongoing habitat loss as their lowland rainforest is rapidly disappearing. Another threat is forest fires.

Population number

According to IUCN, the Green broadbill is fairly common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.

Ecological niche

The Green broadbill plays the important role of seed disperser. Its feeding habits help distribute fig seeds around the forest floor.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • Broadbills love bathing in streams and puddles.
  • The large mouths of these birds mean that they can eat much bigger pieces of food than other birds their size.
  • This species does not have complex or melodic songs but instead, a range of calls described as whistles, trills, rattles, squeaks, or screams. They most often call early in the morning and late afternoon.
  • These birds also communicate by means of a variety of territorial and mating displays. Some perform spinning displays; other displays involve wing flapping, head bobbing, and feather fluffing. ‘Smithorninae’ family members, for example, perform display flights when they make a buzzing sound with their primary wing feathers that can be heard for more than 60 meters.
  • Broadbills during the breeding season seem to be territorial, and their flights of the display may serve as both territorial and breeding displays. They also may defend small fruit patches.

References

1. Green Broadbill Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_broadbill
2. Green Broadbill on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22698750/0
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/665350

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