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Javan Myna soaking in the sun

on 23rd January 2018

Recently Singapore experienced daily rain and strong wind that brought a dip in temperature to between 21ºC and 24ºC. This is an unusual cold spell that we have not experienced for a long time, if at all. Added to these were the cloudy days without sunshine. The weather has so far turned round for the better and today the sun was out blazing.

MynaJ-sun bath

What caught my eyes this afternoon when I walked out of the house was the presence of a Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus). It sat motionless on the grassy ground of my garden, its back towards the sun and head tilted sideways (above, below). The pointed head covered with pointy black feathers ended in a prominent pointed yellow bill. It was obviously soaking in the sun to get relief from the recent cold spell.

MynaJ-sun bath

By the time I got out my video cam, the head had moved so that I could see that the bill was agape, to get rid of excessive heat through panting. The right eye was a distinct round patch of light yellow, with a dot of a pupil to cut off most of the sun’s rays (see video below).

Suddenly it moved vigorously, first preening its neck feathers, then its wing feathers. After further soaking in the sun, it proceeded to preen its wing feathers and scratching its head. In between it continued to pant as seen in the gaping mandibles, before walking away, mandibles still gaping.

Such an activity is part of the bird’s comfort behaviour to keep the feathers in top form… and possibly to increase the flow of preen-oil LINK.

YC Wee
Singapore
18th January 2018

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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