Green Broadbill

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

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

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

Local Subspecies: caudacuta

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.

Ecology/Behaviour: Frequents the middle and lower storeys.

Local Status: Extirpated from Singapore since 1941 but two recent sightings of juveniles without legbands in 2014 suggested that it could be a very rare non-breeding visitor as this species is suspected to be a long distance disperser. However, the possibility of the recent records originating from the caged bird trade cannot be totally ruled out.

Conservation Status: Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)

Location: There were two 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. 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

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

Reference:
Craig Robson (2011) A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia
Allen Jeyarajasingam & Alan Pearson (2012) A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore
David Wells (2007) The Birds of Thai-Malay Peninsula, Volume 2
Lim Kim Seng (2009) The Avifauna of Singapore