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Coppersmith Barbets allobilling?

YC Wee
on 24th January 2013

Through the courtesy of Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS we were made aware of Simon van der Meulen‘s image of a pair of Coppersmith Barbets (Megalaima haemacephala) with bills interlocked, one firmly perched on a branch and the other hanging freely. The image was photographed on 21st December 2012 in a public park in Bangkok, Thailand.

According to Simon, “We first thought that one [of the barbets] was just feeding the other, but once looking through the binoculars, we observed that one was just hanging on to the other by interlocked beaks. No feeding was apparent. Notice the free-hanging barbet above… A very funny sight and I have no clue what was actually happening. Any suggestions/explanations are appreciated!”

Simon van der Meulen
January 2013

Note:
Can the barbets by indulging in allobilling as seen HERE and HERE? But then in these cases the pair is firmly perched and not one supporting the other as in the barbets.

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

Bird Society of Singapore: A credible alternative to the Nature Society’s Bird Group

11th December 2023

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

18th August 2023

Singapore’s secret “garden”

20th July 2023

Singapore-Nature: 15. Looking versus studying birds

12th July 2023

One Response

  1. Could have been a fight, and one got knocked off the perch, but would still not let go of the other. I have seen this happen with pesky parrots.

    Reply

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