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Silver-rumped Spinetail (Needletail) Rhaphidura leucopygialis

on 13th December 2017

“I saw a flock of 15-20 Silver-rumped Spinetail (Needletail) (Rhaphidura leucopygialis) foraging 10-15 meters above a river and primary forest in the early morning. The majority was in some stage of wing moult, often giving a ‘bat-like’ image against the grey skies.

SpinetailSR [AmarSingh] 1

“The number of ‘spines’ in the tail varied considerably due to the moult. The optimal number, from images of mature captive birds, is 10.

SpinetailSR [AmarSingh] 2

“HBW (source below) notes that ‘Especially active in evening. Not often seen with other species and rarely in groups of more than six birds, except in Borneo…’.

“The majority of my observations in Peninsular Malaysia, over the years, suggest that they are also active in the early morning and are often in flock of 10 birds or more.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
12th August 2017

Reference:
Chantler, P., Kirwan, G.M. & Sharpe, C.J. (2017). Silver-rumped Spinetail (Rhaphidura leucopygialis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: A trail along primary jungle

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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