Whitehead's broadbill

Last updated

Whitehead's broadbill
Whitehead's Broadbill 0A2A9668.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Calyptomenidae
Genus: Calyptomena
Species:
C. whiteheadi
Binomial name
Calyptomena whiteheadi
Sharpe, 1888
Calyptomenawhiteheadidist.png

Whitehead's broadbill (Calyptomena whiteheadi) is a species of bird in the family Calyptomenidae. It is endemic to the mountain ranges of north-central Borneo, where it mainly inhabits montane forests and forest edges at elevations of 900–1,700 m (3,000–5,600 ft). It is 24–27 cm (9.4–10.6 in) long, with males weighing 142–171 g (5.0–6.0 oz) and females weighing 150–163 g (5.3–5.7 oz). Males are vivid green and have a black throat patch, black spots on the ear-coverts and back of the neck, and black markings and streaking all over the body. The tails and flight feathers are also blackish. Females are smaller and lack the black markings on the head and underparts . Juveniles look similar to adults but have fewer black markings.

Contents

Described by the British ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1887, Whitehead's broadbill is named after the British explorer John Whitehead. It mainly feeds on fruit and supplements its diet with insects. Breeding probably occurs from March to June, with clutches containing one or two eggs. Although it is classified as being of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, it is threatened by habitat destruction and its population is thought to be decreasing.

Taxonomy and systematics

Whitehead's broadbill was described as Calyptomena whiteheadi by the British naturalist Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1887 based on specimens from Mount Kinabalu, Borneo. [2] The name of the genus, Calyptomena , is from the Ancient Greek words kaluptos, meaning covered, and mēnē, meaning moon. The specific name, whiteheadi, is in honour of the British explorer John Whitehead, [3] who collected the specimens based on which the species was described. [4] Whitehead's broadbill is the official common name designated by the International Ornithologists' Union. [5] Other names for the species include Whitehead's green broadbill, black-throated broadbill, and black-throated green broadbill. [6]

Whitehead's broadbill is one of three species in the genus Calyptomena, a genus of three bright green broadbills found in Southeast Asia. Calyptomena is one of two genera in the family Calyptomenidae, the other being Smithornis , a genus of three rather dull-coloured species found in Africa. Although species-level relationships within the family are unclear, both the genera are monophyletic (including all descendants of a common ancestor) taxa that are sister (most closely related) to each other. [5] [7]

Description

Whitehead's broadbill in Kinabalu Park Whitehead's Broadbill, Kinabalu Park, Sabah, Malaysia.jpg
Whitehead's broadbill in Kinabalu Park

The largest species in the genus Calyptomena, Whitehead's broadbill is 24–27 cm (9.4–10.6 in) long, with males weighing 142–171 g (5.0–6.0 oz) and females weighing 150–163 g (5.3–5.7 oz). Males are vivid green, with some black on the top of the head, black spots on the ear-coverts and back of the neck, and a large black patch on the lower throat and upper breast. They also have extensive black markings on the wings and upper back, conspicuous streaking on the underparts , and blackish tails and flight feathers. The iris is dark brown, the feet are olive to greyish-green, and the bill is black with a pale lower mandible . The forehead has a large tuft of feathers that nearly covers the bill. Females are smaller than males, with a smaller forehead tuft, no black marking on the head, and duller green underparts that lack black streaking. Juveniles are similar to adults but have fewer black markings. [8]

Whitehead's broadbill can be told apart from the other species in its genus by its larger size, black throat, and more extensive black markings on the body. [8]

Vocalisations

Snoring, grinding, and wheezing two-syllable calls such as toc-trrr are characteristic of Whitehead's broadbill. Groups of 3–4 males make a rough, harsh kerrrrrr or kh-khrrrrrr, along with a chek, rrrrt-rrrrt and teek-waaaaarrr. Other calls include a staccato eek-eek-eek, a harsh tzip followed by a 2–3 second long rattle, and a fast series of harsh notes given in flight, all of which are similar to those made by woodpeckers. [8] A hissing ee-ooo may be the species' alarm call. It also makes a flat, low-pitched go-up similar to that of a trogon (which attracts individuals when mimicked), a high saaat, a loud, grating call like that of a jay, a snore-like wheeze, and other hissing and grating sounds. [8]

Distribution and habitat

Whitehead's broadbill is endemic to Borneo, where it is found in the northern and central parts of the island. It is likely found throughout the entire range of mountains that runs down the centre of the island from Mount Kinabalu to Kayan Mentarang and Mount Batu Timbang, although it is locally absent from some areas. [8]

It inhabits primary montane forest and forest edge, preferring areas with taller growth. It is most common at elevations of 900–1,700 m (3,000–5,600 ft), although it can be found at elevations as low as 600 m (2,000 ft) and as high as 1,980 m (6,500 ft). It does not migrate, but does move locally depending on the fruiting seasons of the trees it feeds on. Individuals have also been seen at 75 m (246 ft) during severe droughts. [8] [9]

Behaviour and ecology

Whitehead's broadbills usually perch silently, but are sometimes loud and conspicuous. [9] Their generation length is 4.2 years. [1]

Feeding

The species mainly feeds on fruit, supplementing its diet with insects. The fruits eaten vary from small berries to large drupes, with fruits up to 15 mm × 20 mm (0.59 in × 0.79 in) in size found in stomachs. It has also been observed feeding on the strong-smelling fruit of Litsea cubica . In Kinabalu Park, the species has been observed hunting moths near lights at dawn. [8]

Whitehead's broadbills usually forage alone, but can sometimes be found in small, noisy flocks near fruiting trees. [8] They also occasionally join mixed-species foraging flocks, [8] which can also contain Sunda cuckooshrikes, chestnut-hooded laughingthrushes, Sunda laughingthrushes, and Whitehead's trogons. [10]

Breeding

The breeding season of Whitehead's broadbill probably lasts from March to June. [8] Nests are suspended from slender branches around 15 m (50 ft) above the ground, with the outside made of fresh green moss. The inside is firm and lined with dry bamboo leaves, forming a well-sheltered cavity. A long extending "tail" made of lichen and moss helps camouflage the nest. [8] [11] Clutches contain one or two eggs, [8] which are glossy and pale yellow in colour. The eggs measure 1.26 in–1.45 in × 1 in (32 mm–37 mm × 25 mm). [11] [12] Nothing is known about the incubation and fledging period. [8]

Status

Whitehead's broadbill is classified as being of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to its sufficiently large range and population and a lack of significant population decline. [1] It is fairly common in appropriate habitat and occurs in several protected areas, such as Gunung Mulu National Park and Kinabalu Park. [8] However, its population is currently thought to be declining due to habitat destruction. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corsican nuthatch</span> Species of bird

The Corsican nuthatch is a species of bird in the nuthatch family Sittidae. It is a relatively small nuthatch, measuring about 12 cm (4.7 in) in overall length. The upperparts are bluish gray, the underparts grayish white. The male is distinguished from the female by its entirely black crown. The species is sedentary, territorial and not very shy. It often feeds high in Corsican pines, consuming mainly pine nuts, but also catching some flying insects. The breeding season takes place between April and May; the nest is placed in the trunk of an old pine, and the clutch has five to six eggs. The young fledge 22 to 24 days after hatching.

<i>Trogonoptera</i> Genus of butterfly

Trogonoptera is a genus of birdwing butterflies from the rainforests of the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Natuna, Sumatra, Palawan, and various small islands west of Sumatra. Their large size and stunning colors makes them highly prized by collectors. There are at least three theories as to why these butterflies have such distinctive markings on their wings: (1) the alternate green/black spear shapes mimic sharp thorns; (2) the green spear shapes mimic the camouflage pattern of a fern leaf when the butterfly is resting; (3) when flying, the black and green markings mimic those of green broadbill bird feathers in flight. The three green broadbill species in Borneo are found in the same habitats as Rajah Brooke's birdwing, which occurs from the forested lowlands up to 2.000 m on Mount Kinabalu. A number of observers have noted that all Borneo’s birdwing butterflies are so large that they are easily mistaken for birds in flight. A bird hunting for an insect to eat would be unlikely to attack a bird. If the butterfly wing pattern mimics the broadbill’s feathers then it would be a case of a Mullerian mimicry ring because both species have wings covered with thorn like patterns. In addition the broadbills are protected because of their large beaks and the butterfly because it is poisonous. The blue colors evolved in Trogonoptera brookiana form hecata and Trogonoptera trojana may be explained by the presence of fairy-bluebirds in their habitat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Whitehead (explorer)</span> English explorer and zoologist

John Whitehead was an English explorer, naturalist and professional collector of natural history specimens in Southeast Asia. He is the first documented person to reach the summit of Mount Kinabalu: this was in 1888, after annual attempts from 1885.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green broadbill</span> Species of bird

The green broadbill 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".

<i>Calyptomena</i> Genus of birds

Calyptomena is a genus of birds in the family Calyptomenidae. The name is a combination of two Greek words: kaluptos meaning "covered", and mēnē, meaning "moon". Established by Thomas Stamford Raffles in 1822, the genus contains three species:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crimson-headed partridge</span> Species of bird

The crimson-headed partridge is a species of bird in the pheasant, partridge, and francolin family Phasianidae. Described by the British ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1879, it is the only species in the genus Haematortyx. It is endemic to Borneo, where it inhabits lower montane forest in the northern and central parts of the island. It is mainly found at elevations of 1,000–1,700 m (3,300–5,600 ft), but can be seen as low as 185 m (607 ft) and as high as 3,050 m (10,010 ft). Adult males have a striking appearance, with a dark blackish body and crimson red heads, necks, breasts, and undertail coverts. Females have a similar pattern, but with duller brownish-black colouration, orangish-red heads and breasts, and a brownish-black bill instead of a yellowish one. Juveniles are duller and have the crimson restricted to the top of the head.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bornean stubtail</span> Species of bird

The Bornean stubtail is a species of bird in the cettiid warbler family Cettiidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo, where it inhabits forest floors and undergrowth in montane forests at elevations of 750–3,150 m (2,460–10,330 ft). It is a small, short-tailed warbler, measuring 9.5–10 cm (3.7–3.9 in) in length and having an average mass of 10.4 g (0.37 oz). The tops of the head and the upperparts are brown, with whitish underparts that turn grey at the sides of the breast and the flanks. The supercilium is long and buffish-brown, with an equally long dark grey eyestripe and a thin yellow eye-ring. Both sexes are similar.

Meristogenys whiteheadi is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Borneo and found in both Indonesia (Kalimantan) and Malaysia. Meristogenys stigmachilus and Meristogenys stenocephalus, described as new species in 2011, were formerly included in this species. Owing to the difficulty of distinguishing these species under field conditions, the exact range of this species is uncertain. Its common name is Whitehead's Borneo frog or Whitehead's torrent frog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-fronted falconet</span> Species of bird

The white-fronted falconet, also called the Bornean falconet, is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae. Described by the British ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1879, it is endemic to Borneo, where it is found in Sarawak, Sabah, and extreme northeastern Kalimantan. An extremely small falcon, it is only 14–17 cm (5.5–6.7 in) long and weighs 35–65 g (1.2–2.3 oz), being the smallest species of falconet. It has glossy bluish-black upperparts, black flanks and outer thighs, and a black mask. The belly and vent are pale yellowish-brown, while the throat, cheeks, and breast are white. The species can be told apart from other falconets by the colour of its crown and forehead, which is white in males and reddish-brown in females. It has no subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitehead's spiderhunter</span> Species of bird endemic to Borneo

Whitehead's spiderhunter is a species of spiderhunter in the sunbird and spiderhunter family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to Borneo, where it is found in the mountain ranges in the north-central part of the island. It inhabits hill dipterocarp forest, primary and secondary montane forest, and forest edge at elevations of 930–3,000 m (3,050–9,840 ft). A large and distinctive spiderhunter, the species is mostly brown with profuse whitish streaking all over the body and bright yellow vents and uppertail coverts. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but males are larger, with a length of 16.5–18 cm (6.5–7.1 in) compared to a length of 15.5–16.5 cm (6.1–6.5 in) for females. The juvenile plumage is unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hose's broadbill</span> Species of bird endemic to Borneo

Hose's broadbill is a species of bird in the family Calyptomenidae. It was described by the British naturalist Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1892 and is named after the British zoologist Charles Hose, who collected the holotype of the species. It is 19–21 cm (7.5–8.3 in) long, with females weighing 92 g (3.2 oz) on average and males weighing 102–115 g (3.6–4.1 oz). Males are bright green and have conspicuous black spots on the wings, black markings on the head, blue underparts, black flight feathers, and a large green tuft covering most of the bill. Females have smaller forehead tufts, lime-green underparts with sky blue instead of azure blue on the undertail coverts, and lack black markings on the head, except for a black spot in front of the eye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-sided flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The black-sided flowerpecker, also known as the Bornean flowerpecker, is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo, where it is found in the mountains, primarily above 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in elevation. The species is sexually dimorphic. The male has glossy blue-black upperparts, with a scarlet throat and breast, a dark grey upper belly, olive flanks, a white lower belly, and a buffy vent and undertail coverts. The female is olive-green above and greyish below, with buffy flanks and a whitish throat. It inhabits a range of forest habitats, including primary and secondary montane forest, kerangas forest, and scrub, and is also occasionally found in gardens. It feeds primarily on small fruits—particularly mistletoe berries—as well as seeds, nectar, and various invertebrates. It builds a nest of moss, camouflaged on the outside with lichens and lined with the pith of tree ferns. The International Union for Conservation of Nature rates it as a species of least concern. Though its numbers have not been quantified, the black-sided flowerpecker is said to be common throughout much of its range, and any declines are not thought to be precipitous. However, destruction of forest for palm plantations may impact it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banded broadbill</span> Species of bird from Southeast Asia

The banded broadbill is a species of bird in the typical broadbill family Eurylaimidae found in Mainland Southeast Asia and the Greater Sunda Islands. It is sometimes split into two species, one including only the nominate subspecies, E. j. javanicus, and one including all the remaining subspecies. It inhabits a variety of forests, along with forest edge, rubber plantations and Falcataria falcata groves, mainly in lowland areas. A striking, large-bodied bird with a length of 21.5–23.0 cm (8.5–9.1 in), it is unlikely to be mistaken for another species. The broadbill is mostly purplish-red, with yellow-streaked black wings, a bright blue beak, a blackish face and greyish chin and upper breast. Females can be told apart from males by their lack of a black neckband, although these are indistinct in Bornean and Javan males. Despite its conspicuous appearance, the bird is usually hard to see due to its sluggishness and is usually only noticed when it vocalises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-and-yellow broadbill</span> Species of bird from Southeast Asia

The black-and-yellow broadbill is a species of bird in the typical broadbill family Eurylaimidae. A small, distinctive species, it has a black head, breastband, and upperparts, a white neckband, yellow streaking on the back and wings, and wine-pink underparts that turn yellow towards the belly. The beak is bright blue, with a green tip to the upper mandible and black edges. It shows some sexual dimorphism, with the black breastband being incomplete in females.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bare-headed laughingthrush</span> Species of bird endemic to Borneo

The bare-headed laughingthrush is a species of bird in the Old World babbler family Timaliidae. It is endemic to highland forests at elevations of 750–1,800 m (2,460–5,910 ft) in the mountain ranges of north-central Borneo, along with some outlying peaks. It is 25–26 cm (9.8–10.2 in) long, with both sexes similar in appearance. The head is brownish to greenish yellow and featherless. The area along the lower mandible has a bluish tinge. The rest of the body is dull blackish-brown tinged with grey. Juveniles have more feathers on the head, extending from the forehead to the crown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-throated robin</span> Species of songbird native to New Guinea

The black-throated robin is a species of passerine bird in the Australisian robin family Petroicidae. It is found on the island of New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests at 1,150–2,750 metres above sea-level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grauer's broadbill</span> Species of bird

Grauer's broadbill, also known as the African green broadbill, is a species of bird in the family Eurylaimidae, and is monotypic within the genus Pseudocalyptomena. Its name commemorates the German zoologist Rudolf Grauer who collected natural history specimens in the Belgian Congo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitehead's trogon</span> Species of bird

Whitehead's trogon is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo, where it is an uncommon resident in primary mountain forest. One of Borneo's largest trogons at 29 to 33 cm long, it is sexually dimorphic. The male is crimson on the head, nape, and underparts, with a black throat and grey chest; the rest of his upperparts are cinnamon-coloured. The female is similarly patterned, but cinnamon-brown where the male is scarlet. The species was first described for science by Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1888, who named it for British explorer and collector John Whitehead. There are no subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borneo montane rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Borneo

The Borneo montane rain forests is an ecoregion on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It includes montane tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, also known as a cloud forests. The ecoregion is partly in East Malaysia and Indonesia (Kalimantan).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut-hooded laughingthrush</span> Species of bird endemic to Borneo

The chestnut-hooded laughingthrush is a species of bird in the laughingthrush family Leiothrichidae endemic to Borneo. Described by the British ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe as a distinct species in 1879, it was subsequently considered a subspecies of the chestnut-capped laughingthrush until 2007, when it was again raised to species status by the ornithologists Nigel Collar and Craig Robson. It is 22–24 cm (8.7–9.4 in) long, with a chestnut brown head and chin, with grey feathering on the top of the head. The upperparts and the side of the neck are slaty-grey, with a long white wing patch. The throat, breast, and upper belly are dull yellowish-brown, with purer grey flanks and a reddish-brown vent, lower belly, and thighs. It has a yellow half eye-ring behind and below the eye, while the tail has a blackish tip. Both sexes look similar, while juveniles are duller than adults.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 BirdLife International (2018). "Calyptomena whiteheadi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T22698760A130195521. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22698760A130195521.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Sharpe, Richard Bowdler (1887). "On a new species of Calytomena". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London . London: Academic Press: 558. LCCN   86640225. OCLC   1779524. Archived from the original on 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-04-09 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. Jobling, James A. (2010). Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 86, 407. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4. OCLC   1040808348.
  4. Lecroy, Mary; Sloss, Richard (2000). "Type specimens of birds in the American Museum of Natural History. Part 3, Passeriformes : Eurylaimidae, Dendrocolaptidae, Furnariidae, Formicariidae, Conopophagidae, and Rhinocryptidae". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History . 257. 3: 6. hdl:2246/1607. ISSN   0003-0090. OCLC   1132125195. Archived from the original on 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  5. 1 2 Donsker, David; Gill, Frank; Rasmussen, Pamela (eds.). "NZ wrens, Sapayoa, asities, broadbills, pittas". IOC World Bird List. Archived from the original on 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  6. "Calyptomena whiteheadi (Whitehead's Broadbill)". Avibase . Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  7. Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "African and Green Broadbills (Calyptomenidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.calypt1.01. S2CID   216172460. Archived from the original on 2022-03-26. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Bruce, Murray D. (2020-03-04). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Whitehead's Broadbill (Calyptomena whiteheadi)" . Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.whibro1.01. S2CID   216367826. Archived from the original on 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  9. 1 2 Myers, Susan (2016). Birds of Borneo: Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan. Illustrated by Richard Allen, Hilary Burn, Clive Byers, Daniel Cole, John Cox, Anthony Disley, Alan Harris, Szabolcs Kokay, Mike Langman, Ian Lewington, Andrew Mackay, Stephen Message, Christopher Schmidt, Jan Wilczur, and Tim Worfolk (Second ed.). London: Christopher Helm. p. 202. ISBN   978-1-4729-2444-5. OCLC   944318084.
  10. van Els, Paul; Chua, Vivienne L.; Burner, Ryan C.; Rahman, Mustafa Abdul; Sheldon, Frederick H. (2016-05-13). "Notes on the life history of Harpactes whiteheadi (Aves: Trogonidae), with a description of the juvenile plumage" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology . 64: 76. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  11. 1 2 Sharpe, Richard Bowdler; Whitehead, John (1888). "On the Ornithology of Northern Borneo". Ibis . 30 (2): 436–437. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1888.tb07739.x. ISSN   0019-1019. LCCN   79010132. OCLC   1377260. Archived from the original on 2022-03-06. Retrieved 2022-04-09 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  12. Oates, Eugene William; Ogilvie-Grant, William Robert; Reid, Philip Savile Grey (1903). Catalogue of the Collection of Birds' Eggs in the British Museum. Vol. 3. London. pp. 160–161. doi: 10.5962/bhl.title.8298 . OCLC   8733662. Archived from the original on 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2022-04-09 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.