Silver-breasted Broadbill
Serilophus lunatus
A small, quiet bird with a distinctly silky, smooth-feathered appearance. Shape and pattern unique and unmistakable; note thick black stripe behind eye, dark wings with a glossy blue panel, and broad-based pale bluish bill. Usually moves around through the middle layers of forest from lowlands up into the mountains. Does not often join mixed-species foraging flocks, instead tending to stick to medium-sized groups of its own species. Sometimes gives a smooth, fluid ‘teelee!’
Identification
The silver-breasted broadbill is a medium-sized broadbill, 16–17 centimetres (6.3–6.7 in) in length and weighing 25–35 grams (0.9–1.2 oz). The plumage of the nominate race has a rusty-coloured head with an ash-grey forehead and a broad black supercilium (stripe) over the eye. The breast and belly is white and the rump and upper wing coverts are bright rufous. The flight feathers are striking blue and black and the tail is black. There is a small amount of sexual dimorphism in the plumage, with the female having a narrow silver band across the breast. Young birds resemble adults but with shorter wings and tails, and slightly darker plumage overall. There is also some variation across the different subspecies.
Taxonomy
The silver-breasted broadbill was formally described in 1834 by the English ornithologist John Gould. He placed it in the genus Eurylaimus and coined the binomial name Eurylaimus lunatus. The specific epithet is Latin meaning "crescent-shaped" of "sickle-shaped", from Latin luna meaning "moon". Gould specified the type locality as the neighbourhood of Rangoon (now Yangon) in Myanmar but the locality was subsequently restricted to the hills in the region of Bago, which lie to the north of Yangon.<p>The silver-breasted broadbill is now one of two species placed in the genus Serilophus that was introduced in 1837 by William Swainson. The other species in Serilophus, the grey-lored broadbill, was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the silver-breasted broadbill.<p>Seven subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Serilophus lunatus
- Authority
- (Gould, 1834)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Eurylaimidae
- Genus
- Serilophus
Range and habitat
The silver-breasted broadbillis found in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. The species has declined somewhat due to habitat loss, but is not considered to be threatened with extinction.<p>It occupies a range of forest habitats. It occurs in tropical and semi-tropical forests, as well as semi-deciduous forests and forests dominated by pine, oak and bamboo. It may occur in selectively logged forests and even entered agricultural land and gardens. It occurs at a range of elevations across its range; between 800–2,000 metres (2,600–6,600 ft) in Sumatra but 300–700 m (980–2,300 ft) in China.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The silver-breasted broadbill eats invertebrates, primarily insects : grasshoppers, mantises, caterpillars, larvae, small land snails. These insects are taken by flycatching from perch or by gleaning branches and foliage.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Victoria Crowned-Pigeon
Goura victoria
An enormous pigeon of lowland swamp forest. Blue-gray body and maroon chest. Differs from other crowned pigeons by its long white-tipped crest and pale gray wing patch tipped with maroon. Claps its wings very loudly when it takes off. Forages on the forest floor for fallen fruit. Courtship display includes rocking whole body forward and fanning tail, then lifting wings. Unmistakable and does not overlap with other crowned-pigeons. Voice a deep, upslurred booming call. Also regular deep hooting notes.
Moluccan King-Parrot
Alisterus amboinensis
A brightly colored, slender, long-tailed parrot of forest and clearings from the lowlands to mid-mountains in the northwest. Red head and underparts, long bluish tail, blue back, and green or bluish wings depending on the race. Similar to Papuan King-Parrot with little overlap, but Moluccan lacks the pale green shoulder bar of the male and green head of the female. Somewhat similar to Chattering Lory but Moluccan King-Parrot has a blue rather than red back and a longer tail. Gives clear, high-pitched, upslurred piping and harsh scolding calls.
Crimson-bellied Parakeet
Pyrrhura perlata
Long-tailed parakeet. Has green and blue cheeks, a scaled gray breast, and a conspicuous bright red belly. In flight, note the red on the underwing that looks continuous with the belly. Found in pairs or small noisy groups, at the edge or in the canopy of humid and second growth forests. The flight calls are harsh “krree krree krree” notes.
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