What does broadbill mean?
Broadbill is a noun applied to several unrelated creatures that share one conspicuous feature: a wide bill. Most precisely, it names members of the family Eurylaimidae, small, stockily built perching birds of tropical Asian and African forests, celebrated for their vivid plumage — pinks, blues, greens, and turquoises that make them prized sightings for birders. In North American hunting tradition, broadbill is also an old regional name for the greater and lesser scaup, diving ducks whose slate-blue bills earned them the alternative label 'bluebill'. The word is formed transparently from 'broad' plus 'bill', so its meaning is self-explanatory even to those encountering it fresh. Register varies: ornithologists use it technically, while sportsmen use it colloquially. Context usually makes clear which creature is meant, since the two senses occupy very different habitats — rainforest canopy versus open lakes and coastal bays.
Any bird of the family Eurylaimidae, comprising small brightly coloured passerine birds native to tropical Asia and Africa.
"A long-tailed broadbill perched motionless above the stream."
This is the standard sense in ornithology.
Informally in North America, a scaup (greater or lesser scaup), a diving duck with a broad bill, often called a bluebill.
"The blind was full of broadbills by mid-morning."
Chiefly used by waterfowl hunters.
Standard regular plural.
"Several broadbills were feeding along the river margin."
One word, two birds: 'broadbill' can mean a jewel-toned tropical songbird or a duck hunters call a bluebill.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of broadbill
Broadbill is an English compound of 'broad', from Old English 'brād', and 'bill', from Old English 'bile', meaning a beak. It arose as a descriptive common name, first recorded in English natural-history writing by the late eighteenth century, when European naturalists catalogued the colourful tropical birds of Asia and Africa. Because it is descriptive rather than inherited, it has no deep cognates beyond the ordinary English words 'broad' and 'bill', though it parallels other compound bird names such as 'broadwing' and 'shoveler'.
Related word forms
How broadbill is actually used
The sense intended depends heavily on context: in ornithology and tropical birding, 'broadbill' means the Eurylaimidae; among North American waterfowlers, it is a traditional name for scaup. In fisheries contexts, 'broadbill' may qualify 'swordfish' as a compound term.
Easily confused with broadbill
A broadbill swordfish is a specific name for Xiphias gladius, whereas a broadbill alone refers to birds — either tropical perching birds or scaup ducks.