In the heartland of Singapore’s Tiong Bahru district, Rosemary Tan observed an Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) landing on the crown of a Yellow Penda tree (Xanthostemon chrysanthus). This is a popular roadside tree with attractive yellow flowers originating from Australia LINK
On closer look she realised that the bird was attacking a honeybees’ nest.
This honey-buzzard is a specialist feeder, feeding on the larvae of bees LINK and wasps LINK. They thus regularly attack such nests to feed on the larvae and also bits of the honeycomb.
Rosemary Tan
Singapore
January 2014