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Asian Koel in courtship feeding

YC Wee
on 7th May 2016

KoelA-ct feeding [Nikhil Paul]

The above image shows a pair of Asian Koels (Eudynamys scolopacea) – the male on the right, feeding the female with a fruit. This is a typical ritual known as courtship feeding.

Erritzoe et al. (2007) define courtship feeding thus: “Feeding of the female by the male in a mated pair of birds during the pre-laying and laying periods (sometimes even later during the breeding cycle). Such feeding “may significantly add to the nutrition of the female during egg formation.”

Courtship feeding is seen in a large number of bird species, among which are hornbill, bronze cuckoo, kingfisher, barbet, bee-eater, munia, dove, cuckoo and whydar.

Nikhil Paul
Kolkata, India
27th April 2016

Reference:
Erritzoe, J., K. Kampp, K. Winker & C. B. Frith, 2007. The ornithologist’s dictionary. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. 290 pp.

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.

Other posts by YC Wee

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30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

18th August 2023

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Singapore-Nature: 15. Looking versus studying birds

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Any views and opinions expressed in the articles 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.

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