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Tanimbar Corella feeding on unripe papaya fruits

on 29th November 2010

A number of noisy Tanimbar Corella (Cacatua goffini) visited my papaya tree (Carica papaya) to feed on the fruits (above). They were not after the ripe fruits but the green ones.

Tanimbar Corella was introduced into Singapore sometime after 1980. Since then these birds have thrived and spread to various parts of the main island. One main reason for its success is that it has exploited a food niche that is not in direct competition with any other species. These parrots feed on a number of fruits that are not taken by others.

Green papaya is a good example. Other birds wait for the fruits to ripen, but not Tanimbar Corella. Another example is pong pong (Cerbera odollam). The hard green fruits are not eaten by any other birds. The fallen fruits of sea almond (Terminalia catappa) and seeds from the ripened pods of leucaena or petai jawa (Leucaena leucocephalia) are yet another two examples.

These parrots also take seeds of the golden shower (Cassia fistula) as well as the green pods. They have also been documented to dig out the soft seeds of the green starfruit (Averrhoa carambola) to eat, leaving a litter of damaged fruits below the tree.

YC Wee
Singapore
November 2010

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. Amazing! thanks for this wonderful article. I learnt something new! I love this birds, they look so adorable and intelligent and I hope they will continue to thrive!

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