House Crow handling a toad

on 4th March 2016

3 Comments

“While shooting some water lilies at a pond near the lift landing at Marina Bay Sands, I saw a waterhen on the opposite banks. I rushed over for a closer look, running along the perimeter of the pond.

“To my astonishment, as I was approaching the grassy path, i was greeted with this sight.

“A House Crow (Corvus splendens) was trying to flip this toad like a piece of prata onto the grass (above). It did that multiple times. The poor toad was still alive and it tried to jump away (below) but was caught again by the crow.

“A myna was waiting and watching close by. I wish I had taken a video of them. Sigh.

“As I went closer, I think the crow felt threatened so it decided to da bao (the local word for takeaway) the toad home, or to a safer place before it consumes its lunch (above).

“This is also for the nature challenge tagged by Carol Lynn Beukes and also for Mr YC Wee.”

Lilian Sng
Singapore
13th February 2016

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.

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.

3 Responses

Am says:

4th March 2016 at 1:16 pm

I thought toads had poisonous skin or something? Can someone please clarify? Are they safe for birds to consume?

Reply
Lilian sng says:

4th March 2016 at 1:55 pm

https://www.quora.com/How-do-animals-in-the-wild-avoid-eating-anything-poisonous
Not sure if this helps answer part of your question?

Reply
Critters says:

17th March 2016 at 12:16 pm

The crow knows that the toad is poisonous and it will only eat the kidney. It will use its beak to create a small slit on the toad’s back and dig out the kidney.

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House Crow handling a toad

YC Wee

Other posts by YC Wee

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

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

Singapore’s secret “garden”

Singapore-Nature: 15. Looking versus studying birds

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