Black-and-red Broadbill

The black-and-red broadbill is a stocky, large-headed forest bird about 22 cm long. Adults have glossy black upperparts, deep maroon underparts and neck, bold white wing bars and a broad, flattened bill coloured blue with a yellow tip. The dark tail and wings contrast sharply with the rich red body. Males and females are similar, although females average slightly smaller. Its heavy bill and striking colour pattern make it unlike the paler silver-breasted and banded broadbills (Wikipedia, general species account; Wildlife of Borneo species account).

It ranges from Myanmar and Thailand through Indochina and the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo, favouring lowland forest beside rivers, swamp forest and secondary woodland close to water. Birds take insects and also molluscs, small crustaceans and fish, with some leaves and seeds recorded. Both sexes construct a bulky, hanging nest over water or an open gap, using plant fibres and twigs. The normal clutch is two or three eggs, and both adults incubate them (Wikipedia, general species account).