Visayan Broadbill Sarcophanops samarensis

Visayan Broadbill Sarcophanops samarensis

Vulnerable

Extant (resident)

Philippines

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The Visayan Broadbill Sarcophanops samarensis is a brightly colored bird endemic to the islands of Samar, Leyte, and Bohol in the central Philippines. Males flaunt striking reddish-pink underparts, while females are marked by a distinctive white belly and collar. Sadly, due to extensive deforestation and habitat loss for palm oil and other commodities in the Philippines, the Visayan Broadbill is now classified as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List. There is only an estimated population of 2,500 to 9,999 mature individuals left alive! Therefore urgent conservation measures are needed to protect this unique bird’s lowland forest habitat. Advocate for stricter protections, push back against illegal logging for palm oil #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife to make a difference.

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Appearance & Behaviour

The Visayan Broadbill is a small passerine bird that measures between 14 to 15 cm. Their distinctive features include a pale blue bill and eye wattle, a black face, a streaked crown, and a reddish-brown back. While the male has a reddish-pink belly and collar, the female has a white belly and a black-and-white collar. Their unique vocalisations include whistles, rattles, and sharp calls.

These birds possess a wide mouth, allowing them to consume larger pieces of food than most other birds their size. Their distinctive vocalisations, such as whistles and rattles, are complemented by unique wing and head displays during territorial or mating behaviour. Despite these fascinating traits, they face critical threats from habitat loss due to extensive deforestation and land conversion for farming and mining, leaving only 4% of forest in Bohol and limited primary forest in Samar and Leyte. Their estimated population has declined to 2,500–9,999 mature individuals.

Threats

• Deforestation: Logging and land conversion for palm oil and other agriculture have decimated their natural lowland forest habitat.
• Mining: Mining concessions further exacerbate habitat destruction.
• Illegal Logging: Even within protected areas like the Rajah Sikatuna National Park, illegal logging persists.
• Agricultural Expansion: Slash-and-burn farming techniques and forest fires are common and degrade forest quality and threaten these birds and many other aniamls.

Habitat

This strikingly colourful species inhabits the lowland tropical forests of the central Philippines, primarily on the islands of Samar, Leyte, and Bohol. Their preferred habitats include moist lowland forests and shrublands, typically found below 1,000 meters.

Diet

The Visayan Broadbill feeds on insects, which they capture during short sallies, often foraging in pairs, groups, or mixed-species flocks in the understory and lower canopy.

Mating and breeding

They breed in tropical moist forests and engage in unique territorial and mating displays. Males perform wing flapping, head bobbing, and feather fluffing, while females often join in flights. They tend to stay in pairs or small groups during the breeding season.

Support Visayan Broadbill by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

BirdLife International. (2017). Sarcophanops samarensis (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22698727A110060626.en

Visayan Broadbill. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visayan_broadbill

Visayan Broadbill. Animalia.bio. https://animalia.bio/visayan-broadbill

Collar, N.J. et al. (1999). Philippine Forest Birds.

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