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Asian Palm Swift feeding chicks

on 20th June 2010

TS Tan’s image shows an adult Asian Palm Swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis) feeding two hungry chicks late one evening in May 2010. This family is among a colony roosting and nesting in a fan palm (Livistona sp.) growing right next to a busy road and a two storey building in Singapore.

The Asian Palm Swift is a common resident in Singapore. It is also commonly seen around other palms like toddy (Borassus), betel nut (Areca) and talipot (Corypha) that they use for roosting and nesting.

The nest is a flimsy half-cup attached to the undersurface of an older palm frond that hangs down almost vertically. Plant floss, usually from the silk cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra), bulrush (Typha spp.), etc. are used to construct the nest. Feathers may also be used. The nesting materials are glued to the palm surface with the help of the birds’ saliva.

In other species, the eggs are glued to the nest as otherwise they may get dislodged during stormy weather when the palm fronds get blown by the strong wind. However, the eggs of the Asian Palm Swift are not glued to the nest. Besides having a deeper egg chamber, the eggs are incubated continuously during such weather.

Note that one of the chicks is inside the nest while the other is perched at the apron during the feeding. Obviously there is not enough space in the nest as the chicks are at an advanced stage of development. Notice also their well-developed wing feathers. And as with most chicks, they have a reddish gape.

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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