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Little Ringed Plover – gular flutter and age

on 9th August 2016

PloverLR-gular flutte [AmarSingh]

“I was passing through this area and stopped to check out the waders. It was extremely hot at 12 noon and I spotted this Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius curonicus) that was employing a gular flutter to keep cool.

PloverLR-gular flutte [AmarSingh]

“Frank B. Gill. Ornithology 3rd Edition 2007 states: ‘To supplement panting when they are hot, some birds rapidly vibrate the hyoid muscles and bones in their throats. This action, called gular fluttering, increases the rate of evaporative water loss from the mouth lining and upper throat.

“I was a bit puzzled by the plumage. The brown fringes to the plumage suggested the bird was moulting. The presence of ‘golden-buff’ on the forehead suggest a juvenile bird (1st Winter, see Helm guides descriptions). Juveniles are also described as having ‘warm-buff fringes’ and ‘faint buff supercilium’.

PloverLR-gular flutte [AmarSingh]

“The bird was standing on one foot for a while and ignored me in the heat. So I managed a few short video of the heating loosing behaviour and plumage, see video below:”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
16th December 2015

Location: Malim Nawar Wetlands, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Extensive ex-tin mining area with extensive pond/lakes, wetlands, fish farming

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.

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