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Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher catching a frog

on 19th February 2009

Johnny Wee managed to photograph an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Cyex erithacus) at Lower Peirce Reservoir. The bird was around for about two weeks. Being an uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant, it will soon move on, after fattening itself these past few weeks.

In its bill was something it had caught earlier. Initially thought to be a skink, it was disputed by R Subaraj who thought the legs do not point to that, besides the body appears a little too white-washed.

Johnny thought it could be a frog. So the image was sent to Dr Leong Tzi Ming who finally identified it as a possible Copper-cheeked or White-lipped Frog (Rana chalconota). This nocturnal frog inhabits the forest edge, moving on the ground and up trees.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

One Response

  1. This frog is pretty common in the area frequented by the kingfisher. If people would stay quiet and listen, they would have heard calls from all around, from the undergrowth by the boardwalk to the streamside fringes, and would not have needed to resort (if such reports are true) to baiting the bird with frogs.

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