Black and red broadbill (Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos) is found from Myanmar east through most of Indo-China and then south to Malaysia. This species is also found in much of western Indonesia including Sumatra and Borneo. This small less than 6 inch bird has distinctive red, white, and black coloration.

The image in the Princeton Illustrated Check list shows a bird with a black head, dorsal black area with the leading edge of the wing showing white. The throat and ear area is orange-red marked below with a black upper breast band. The middle and lower breast is red orange.

There are 4 recognized subspecies. The nominate subspecies was discovered in western Indonesia. The subspecies affinis is found in the western portion of southern Myanmar (Burma). The subspecies stamensis is found from southern Myanmar east through much of Indo-China to southern Vietnam. The subspecies malaccensis is found in the Malaysian peninsula.

The form pictured in the Collins Field Guide to the birds of south east Asia has a black head, black back, and black dorsal wings. However, there is a white streak in the wing. There is also a black band across the upper breast splitting the burnt orange breast from the burnt orange neck partial neck stripe.

Although there are several different genera of broadbills, this particular genus (Cymbirhynchus) contains a single species found from Indo-China south to Sumatra and Borneo. Broadbills are known to feed on insects which can be captured in flight or found on leaves and branches. Their broad tails give them excellent control of their flight.

Broadbills (Family Eurylaimidae) are a group of about 14-15 species of birds found primarily in southeastern Asia with additional examples found in central Africa. Many species are very vividly colored. They have broad flat bills. These birds build hanging nests, and feed on fruits and insects.

Most passerhines have 14 neck vertebrae, but broadbills have 15.

The following genera belong here:
Smithornis (3 species)
Calyptomena (3 species)
Cymbirhynchus (1 species)
Psarisomus(1 species)
Serilophus lunatus (1 species)
Eurylaimus (4 species)
Corydon (1 species)
Pseudocalyptomena (1 species)

The Eurylaimoidea superfamily contains two different families therein. The Eurylaimidae and the Philepittidae belong here.

In most modern bird taxonomies, the perching birds (Passeriformes) is treated as a single order. This large order has about 5739 different species. A common characteristic of this order is three forward toes and one reverse pointing toe. Most of species are also characterized by a tendon locking mechanism that permits their feet to lock onto branches when they relax. Recently, Monroe and Sibley in 1993 have divided this large order into six main divisions. To help our users navigate this gigantic number of species, we have arbitrarily placed these 6 different divisions at the order level.

This division can properly be referred to as:
Order Passseriformes (5739 species)
Suborder Tyranni (1159 species)
Infraorder Eurylaimides (49 species)Broadbills, Pipits, and relatives (Suborder Eurylaimides) can be divided into several different groups: The broadbills (Eurylaimidae), the pipits (Pittidae), and the Asities (Philepittidae). Most authors give each of these groups family status. Others place them in a suborder Tyrannides. Herein, we place these three groups into an suborder entitled Eurylaimides.

Aves contains about 8,650 different species of living birds known to science. Each year about one new species is discovered in some remote rain forest or remote island. In addition, scientists have been raising many subspecies to full species status which may raise the species count to 10,000. Birdlife recognizes 10,027 species as of 2011.

However, each year about one species goes extinct. The rate of extinction is increasing, and the rate of new discovery is decreasing, so that the number of bird species will soon begin to decline rapidly. Although different taxonomists would organize the birds differently, there are approximately twenty-seven orders of birds. These orders are broken down into about one hundred and fifty-five different families.

Recent research of the genetic structure of some of the shore birds and owls would indicate that the present organization of orders and families should have some modification.

The birds are a worldwide group of animals that are characterized by having the front limbs modified into wings that are used for flying. Perhaps the most unique feature of the birds is the feathers. These feathers are made up of a central support called a quill and a series of small filaments that are hooked together as barbs.

For many years it was believed that Archaeopteryx discovered in Bavaria was the oldest bird from about 150 million years ago. However, in l986, Sankar Chattterjee, a Texas paleontologist, reportedly discovered a bird in the genus Protoavis that lived about 225 million years ago.

When this project was begun in 1978, we used Austin & Singer for bird taxonomy. Since then, we have adopted many changes, but have kept some older concepts that are still found widely in the literature. Recently, we have used Clements and Howard & Moore. Very recently, we have used Monroe and Sibley for the higher taxonomy of the perching birds.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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