What is "softbill"

n. (alternative spelling of soft-bill English)

The term softbill is not a scientific one and has been used, and more often misused, in aviculture for numerous years. It is a very misleading title, as many species that fall into the category do not have a soft bill at all.

The proper use of the term is in reference to the ‘soft food’ diets which typically fall into the following six categories:

• Carnivorous – those who feed on small mammals, birds or other vertebrates (e.g., kingfishers, rollers)
• Insectivorous – those who feed on insects and other invertebrates (e.g., bee-eaters, fly-catchers)
• Omnivorous – those who feed on both animal and plant material (e.g., Corvids, hornbills)
• Frugivorous – those who feed on fruit (e.g., turacos, fruit doves)
• Nectarivorous – those who feed on flower nectar (e.g., hummingbirds, sunbirds)
• Folivorous – those who feed on leaves, petals and other plant material ( turacos, mousebirds)

This sixth diet type is usually in association with one of the above, as very few birds are solely folivorous. Several species of Galliformes are frolivores, however they are not considered to be softbills.

A more recent definition by Clive Roots is, “Cage and aviary birds with relatively soft bills, which feed upon insects* and soft plant material and whose young are helpless at birth”.

- including other larger animal prey

This latter definition does discriminate against a few species, however as can be seen, the definition is very subjective and can encompass numerous species not generally included in the group.