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Brown-throated Sunbird dealing with Costus spicatus flower

on 27th January 2014

An earlier post showed what appeared to be a Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) manipulating a flower of the Indian Head Ginger (Costus spicatus) to get at its nectar LINK.

Johnny Wee has now provided a series of images of another Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) manipulating a flower of the Indian Head Ginger photographed at Singapore’s Garden by the Bay in mid-January 2014. These images provide a clearer picture of what actually happened when the sunbird visited the flower for nectar.

This ginger plant is a popular ornamental plant grown in gardens. The inflorescence is a cone covered with densely overlapping, bright red bracts. The yellow to orange flowers appear one at a time. The three petals are fused halfway to the base.

Landing on the top of the inflorescence, the Brown-throated Sunbird used its right foot to grab a petal and pulled it inwards, thereby prying open the flower (top, above).

Once the flowers had been torn open, the sunbird dipped its bill into it so that its tongue can have access to the nectar (below).

Johnny Wee
Singapore
January 2014

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

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