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Raffles’ Malkoha building nest

on 2nd August 2009

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS is an avid birder from the Malaysian state of Perak. A birdwatcher for more than 35 years, he has since given up ticking off new species on his checklist. He is now into the more interesting aspect of getting to know birds better. The book he just published, A Friendship with Birds (2009, Desktop Systems, Ipoh), shows off his intimate knowledge of bird behaviour.

Recently he chanced upon a male Raffles’ Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus chlorophaeus) collecting nesting materials (below). The bird was picking fresh leaves as well as tearing off leaf pieces and flying to this thick tangle of climbers about 5 metres from the ground to slowly construct his nest (left).

The Raffles’ Malkoha, unlike most cuckoos, builds its own nest. According to Wells (1999), the nest, built entirely by the male, is a shallow platform of twigs lined with green leaves and constructed 3-8 metres up in a forest thicket. Breeding in Peninsular Malaysia, again according to Wells (1999) is from March to May. However, much is not known about its breeding behaviour and life history.

All images by Amar-Singh HSS (Dato, Dr)

Reference:
Wells, D.R., 1999. The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. I, Non-passerines. Academic Press, London. 648 pp.

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.

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