The black-and-red broadbill (Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos) is a species of bird in the typical broadbill family, Eurylaimidae. It is the only species in the genusCymbirhynchus. A large, distinctive bird, it has maroon underparts, black upperparts, a maroon neck-band, and white bars on the wings. It also has a large, two-colored, blue-and-yellow bill. The species shows slight sexual dimorphism, with females being smaller than males. No other bird in its range resembles it, though the black-and-yellow broadbill has a similar call.
The species is found in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Inhabiting lowland riparian forest throughout its range, it can also adapt quite well to disturbed habitat, such as secondary forest growth and degraded habitat near rivers. The black-and-red broadbill is mainly insectivorous, supplementing its diet with aquatic creatures such as mollusks, snails, fish, and crustaceans. It also takes leaves and seeds incidentally.
Breeding takes place during the dry season throughout its range, with the nest being a large, conspicuous structure that usually hangs over water. Nests are built by both sexes, out of creepers, fungal hyphae, moss, and other plant matter. Eggs are laid in clutches of two or three, occasionally with a fourth runt egg, and incubated by both parents. The black-and-red broadbill is evaluated as a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to its large range and the lack of a severe decrease in its global population. However, the species has experienced declines in several parts of its range, and may face threats due to deforestation, trapping for the songbird trade, and hunting.
The generic name is from the Greekκύμβη (kymbē), which could mean either "small boat", "head" or "an unknown bird", and ῥύγχος (rhynkhos), meaning bill. The specific name macrorhynchos comes from the Greek μακρόρρυγχος (makrorrhynkhos), meaning long-billed.[6] "Black-and-red broadbill" has been designated the official common name by the International Ornithologists' Union.[7] Other names include black and red broadbill, black-red broadbill, black and white broadbill,[8] and (in the Kelantan province) burong tĕrajan.[9]
clinal variation in appearance, as the size of birds increases and the white on the tail decreases from north to south through its range. Subspecies affinis is occasionally recognized as a separate species.[13]
C. m. macrorhynchos (J. F. Gmelin, 1788): The nominate, it is found on Borneo, Sumatra, and some offshore islands. Sumatran populations are sometimes separated as C. m. lemniscatus. Populations from south Sumatra are also occasionally treated as a distinct subspecies tenebrosus.[13]
C. m. affinisBlyth, 1846: Also known as the Irrawaddy broadbill, it is found in southern Myanmar. It is smaller than the nominate, with paler red underparts and rump, a small white flash on the wing, crimson spots on the wing, and broader white tips on the tail. It is occasionally treated as a distinct species on the basis of its smaller size and differences in plumage.[13]
C. m. malaccensisSalvadori, 1874: Found in the Malay peninsula. It was also formerly found in Singapore. It is slightly smaller than the nominate and has slightly paler red plumage.[13]
C. m. siamensisMeyer de Schauensee and Ripley, 1940: Found from southern Myanmar to northern peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand, also extending into Cambodia, southern Laos, and southern Vietnam. It is very similar in appearance to malaccensis, but is smaller and has shorter wings, along with a higher proportion of white-tipped tail feathers.[13]