Black-and-yellow Broadbill

The black-and-yellow broadbill is a small, distinctive species of typical broadbill that is 13.5–15 cm (5.3–5.9 in) long and weighs 31–39 g (1.1–1.4 oz). Males have black heads and upperparts with a white collar and black breastband, along with prominent yellow markings on the back and wings. The underparts are vinous-pink, fading to yellow towards the belly and undertail coverts (tail feathers that cover the underside of the base of the tail). The tail is black, with yellow spots on the middle feathers and whiter ones on the outer feathers. The iris is pale yellow, while the bill is bright blue, with a green tip to the upper mandible and black edges. The base of the bill lacks bristles, which are present in some other species of broadbills. The legs are reddish, with long tarsometatarsi. The species shows some sexual dimorphism, with females having a gap in the centre of the black breastband. Juveniles lack a well-defined breastband and have a pale yellow supercilium (a stripe running from the beak to above the eye) with grayish-white underparts. Reddish colours in the plumage of the black-and-yellow broadbill are caused by the biological pigment 2,3-didehydro-papilioerythrinone, which is also present in the feathers of the banded broadbill, black-and-red broadbill, and Sarcophanops species. …

The black-and-yellow broadbill is found in Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, and Brunei. In Indonesia, it is found on the Riau Islands and the Lingga Islands, as well as on Borneo, Sumatra, Bangka Island, Belitung, and the Natuna Islands. It inhabits evergreen forest, mixed dipterocarp forest, fresh water and coastal swamp forests, heath forest, and forest edges, along with secondary forest and plantations, such as those of cocoa, rubber, and Albizia. Its presence in secondary forest and plantations depends on those areas having large remnant trees. The species is mostly found in lowlands, occurring at elevations up to 700 m (2,300 ft) in the Malay Peninsula, 900 m (3,000 ft) in Sumatra, and 1,220 m (4,000 ft) in Borneo.

Black-and-yellow broadbills have been recorded performing wing displays, in which they raise their wings, generally slightly over the back, and then slowly open and close their flight feathers. Occasionally, the displays are performed with only one wing, followed by tail wags, or accompanied by gaping displays in which the beak is steadily opened and closed. These displays have been observed after singing, in response to playback, and after foraging. Black-and-yellow broadbills have been reported occasionally gathering in groups of up to five birds, although groups larger than pairs or pairs with young are not regular. In spite of frequent confrontational behaviour like counter-singing, they display a high tolerance for other individuals in their territories or close by, with aggressive behaviour such as chasing seldom being observed. However, pairs have been observed confronting each other to defend their territory by bowing their heads and vocalising before attacking each other.

Feeding. The black-and-yellow broadbill mainly feeds on insects, including orthopterans (grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts), mantises, beetles, hymenopterans (ants, wasps, sawflies, and bees), flies, winged termites, and caterpillars. It has also been recorded feeding on molluscs, along with incidental consumption of fruit. …