“Some of the interesting bird behaviour observed has poor documented images due to lighting and reach. I spotted this male Plain Sunbird (Anthreptes simplex) feeding on the Acacia mangium arils and seeds.
“The fruit of the Acacia is a curled pod, initially green, turning brown-black on drying and splitting to expose a black seed and orange ‘stalk’ (aril). YC Wee (See: Tropical trees and shrubs – A selection for urban plantings, 2003), when describing the Acacia auriculiformis, states that “The yellow stalks and black seed apparently attract the attention of birds which swallow them together, the seeds passing out unharmed to germinate all over the place”.
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
21st June 2015
Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: A trail along primary jungle, alongside a stream
One Response
Had no idea sunbirds ate seeds too; thought their diet was mainly nectar and sometimes insects.