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Flowerpeckers and Clidemia hirta

on 16th July 2009

Calvin Chang a.k.a deswitch was at the Panti forest in nearby Johor state of Malaysia in May 2009. There, he documented an adult male and a juvenile Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker (Prionochilus percussus) as well as a male Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma) (above) eating the fruits of what looks like the hairy clidemia (Clidemia hirta). This plant, introduced from the American tropics, is one of the most intrusive weed in the region.

Cheke & Mann (2008) report that the Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker crushes berries of Melastoma, uses its bill to either puncture figs and Eugenia and sucks out the contents or bites off pieces. It also presumably feeds on the nectar, pollen and fruits of mistletoe (Loranthaceae). As for Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, they report various fruits, including figs, mistletoe, seeds of sedges, spiders and small insects. The bird also takes nectar from flowers.

Reference:
Cheke, R. A. & C. F. Mann, 2008. Family Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers). In: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott & D. A. Christie (eds.), Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 13. Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Lynx Editions, Barcelona. Pp. 350-389.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

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

2 Responses

  1. Are you sure this is Clidemia hirta? The leaves don’t look quite right to me. I’m not familiar with other species of the genus, but the leaves look more like species I know in the (related–same family–and also extremely weedy) genus Tibouchina.

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