Eurylaimidae – Typical broadbills

A group of brilliantly colored and often oddly charming birds found mainly in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Broadbills are famous for their chunky, oversized bills—broad, flattened, and almost comical-looking—that give the family its name. These bills aren’t just for show, though; they help the birds catch a variety of insects, snails, and sometimes even small fruits, which they snap up with surprising accuracy.

One of the most distinct features of broadbills in this family is their vibrant plumage. Species often sport striking contrasts of bright blues, yellows, reds, pinks, blacks, and whites. Their feathers look as though they’ve been dipped in a box of crayons. Some, like the Black-and-red broadbill (Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos), look like they’re wearing tuxedos splashed with bright accessories, while others, like the Long-tailed broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae), appear almost cartoonish with their green bodies and yellow faces topped with a black “helmet.”

Broadbills are also known for their peculiar nesting style. Instead of neat little cups like robins or woven baskets like weaverbirds, broadbills construct large, dangling, purse-like nests that hang from tree branches, often over rivers or streams. These nests can look like scruffy socks or messy handbags dangling in the forest. It may look haphazard, but it’s actually very clever: the dangling structure makes it harder for predators to raid the eggs or chicks.

Behavior-wise, broadbills tend to be social and chatty. They often move in small flocks, flitting through the mid-canopy of forests, exchanging a variety of calls. Their voices range from sharp whistles to odd buzzing notes, making them sound as eccentric as they look. Because they like to perch in open spots, they’re relatively easy to observe once you’ve found them, but spotting them in their dense jungle habitats can still be a challenge.