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Greater Green Leafbird and others feeding on figs

on 12th September 2009

“A visit to the Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve in the Malaysian state of Perak on 23rd August 2009 yielded interesting feeding behaviour of the Greater Green Leafbird (Chloropsis sonnerati zosterops). The area is a bird watchers paradise but a bird photographer’s nightmare.

“I came across a noisy fruiting Ficus tree covered with 40-50 birds in a feeding frenzy. There were at least 30 different species of birds feeding together. I watched for three plus hours and tried to get some pictures. As usual did not use any flash to minimise disturbance.

“This young female Greater Green Leafbird allowed me close access to its feeding behaviour. Note the feeding composite image (above). After taking time to choose a ripe fig, it will take effort to crush it fully before swallowing. I suspect this is because it may have difficulty digesting the thick outer lining of the fig. Saw this repeatedly for all the figs she took.

“Wells (2007) states, and I quote, ‘working the soft contents loose, squeezing and tonguing these down and discarding the rind” but I saw the figs swallowed repeatedly after crushing.

“Some of the bulbul species and barbets I observed at this tree did not do so and swallowed the fig whole, like the Spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus erythropthalmos), Old-whiskered Barbet (Megalaima chrysopogon) and Brown Barbet (Calorhamphus fuliginosus hayii). But the Red-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus brunneus) and Blue-eared Barbet (Megalaima australis duvaucelii) also crushed the fig before consuming it.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
7th September 2009

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

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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