Trowel beak

Trowel beak

The trowelbill(Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos) or trowelbill broadbill is a representative of the small family of broadbills (Eurylaimidae), to which around 15 species belong.

The plumage of the trowelbill is coloured black on the upper side of the body and strikingly red on the upper side. There is a black band across the neck, which visually separates the head from the breast. The upper beak is light blue, while the lower beak is bright yellow, giving the trowelbill an extremely colourful appearance. It reaches a body length of 24 cm and a weight of up to 76 g.

Nutrition

It feeds mainly on various small invertebrates such as insects, mussels, snails and crabs. It also occasionally supplements its diet with fruits, seeds and berries.

Distribution

It is found in South-East Asia, from Myanmar via Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia to Indonesia.

The habitat of the trowelbill is tropical lowland rainforests in the immediate vicinity of rivers and streams. However, it is also occasionally found in mangroves, plantations, parks and gardens. It feeds mainly on various small invertebrates such as insects, mussels, snails and crabs. It also occasionally supplements its diet with fruits, seeds and berries.

The breeding season of the trowelbill is between December and August, depending on the area of origin. The pear-shaped nest is built by both sexes from grass, twigs, tree bark, moss and many other materials on a branch hanging over a river. Nest building is extremely complicated and can take up to 50 days. The clutch usually consists of two to three eggs, which are incubated by both parents.

The population of the trowelbill is not currently categorised as endangered. It has a very large range and occurs in several nature reserves. The greatest threat is posed by deforestation, which destroys its habitat.