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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:
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.