Calyptomena whiteheadi
The Whitehead's Broadbill (Calyptomena whiteheadi) is a captivating, medium-sized passerine bird, endemic to the montane rainforests of Borneo. Males are strikingly emerald green, adorned with a bold black patch behind the eye, a black nape, and a large, leaf-like green fleshy wattle almost completely obscuring its short, broad bill. Females share the overall green plumage but lack the black markings and the prominent bill wattle, appearing duller, while juveniles resemble females. Measuring ...
Found exclusively in primary montane and submontane rainforests, typically at elevations between 900 and 1,700 meters, occasionally descending to 600 meters. It favors areas with dense canopy cover and a rich understory.
Primarily frugivorous, with a strong preference for wild figs (Ficus species), but also consumes other small fruits and berries. Insects are occasionally taken, especially by younger birds.
Whitehead's Broadbills are diurnal and often observed singly or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species foraging flocks. Their foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning fruits directly from branches while perched, sometimes hovering briefly to pluck inaccessible items. They are known for...
The Whitehead's Broadbill is strictly endemic to the island of Borneo, being found across the montane regions of both Malaysian Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) and Indonesian Borneo (Kalimantan), with limited presence in Brunei. Its distribution is concentrated in primary and submontane rainforests, t...
Near Threatened
- The Whitehead's Broadbill is named after John Whitehead, a British explorer and naturalist who first collected the species in Borneo in 1888. - Its fleshy green wattle, unique among birds, almost completely covers its broad bill, enhancing its camouflage among the leaves. - Despite its vibrant ...