“When I posted an earlier image of the Grey-breasted Spiderhunter (Arachnothera modesta modesta) nectar feeding on the banana flowers of Musa ‘1000 Fingers’, I suspect few appreciated my description of this Malaysian banana. The above image shows the spiderhunter with its bill covered with pollen.
“I had another opportunity and this time made sure I zoomed out as much as possible to show this magnificent fruiting plant. The image on the left does not show the whole fruiting bunch. See the bird at the tip/end of the fruit.
“One attempt to count the individual fingers (fruit) came up with 3,400.
“The two images below show the spiderhunter poking its bill into the flower to get at the nectar.”
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
21st October 2014
Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Fringe of the forest reserve/primary jungle