Green Broadbill

Scientific Name: Calyptomena viridis
Malay Name: Seluwit Biasa
Chinese Name: 绿阔嘴鸟
Alternative Name(s): Little Green Broadbill

Range:
Found from the Thai-Malay Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: caudacuta, viridis, siberu.

Local Subspecies: caudacuta

Size:

Identification:
Male has bright deep green overall plumage with broad tuft of feathers on top of bill, blackish patch on rear of ear-coverts and broad black bars on wing-coverts. Female resembles male but duller with no black markings. Juvenile resembles female but has paler breast and greenish-white vent.

Habitat: Usually found in forest but also wooded areas and gardens in Singapore.

Behaviour/Ecology: Frequents the middle and lower storeys.

Local Status: Very rare non-breeding visitor

Conservation Status: Near Threatened (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: There were several recent records. A juvenile was observed and photographed at a fruiting tree at East Coast Park on 27 and 29 November 2014 followed by another sighting of a juvenile at Sensory Trail, Pulau Ubin on 25 December 2014. These two records coincided with the unprecedented mass appearance and sightings of Cinereous Bulbuls and Streaked Bulbuls (both uncommon to rare non-breeding visitors) all over Singapore including East Coast Park and Pulau Ubin during the same period. An adult male was seen at Pulau Ubin again on 7 and 11 April 2021. It was refound on 27 June 2021 and was observed by many for several days. Earlier records include one heard at Nee Soon Swampforest in July 2002.

Photos:

Juvenile Green Broadbill at East Coast Park. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Juvenile Green Broadbill at East Coast Park. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Juvenile Green Broadbill at East Coast Park. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Juvenil Green Broadbill at East Coast Park. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Male Green Broadbill at Panti, Peninsula Malaysia. Photo Credit: Alan Ng

Female Green Broadbill at Panti, Peninsula Malaysia. Photo Credit: Wong Lee Hong

Male Green Broadbill at Pulau Ubin, April 2021. Photo Credit: Keita Sin

Male Green Broadbill at Pulau Ubin, June 2021. Photo Credit: Adrian Silas Tay

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Calyptomena viridis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Robson, C. (2008). A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers.
Wells, D. (1999). Birds of Thai-Malay Peninsula. Academic Press.