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Great Slaty Woodpecker sighted in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

on 24th May 2018

On the morning of 5th May 2018 a female Great Slaty Woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus) was sighted near the summit of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve by photographer Ted Lee. This again shows the contributions of photographers to bird watching in Singapore.

According to Wang & Hails (2007), this is a very rare, non-breeding visitor to Singapore. In 1904 a male was collected from Woodlands. In the 1970s there were two unconfirmed sightings in Changi after which there were no other records.

To actually sight it at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve created much excitement among nature enthusiasts.

After all, this is the largest woodpecker in the world, besides being locally extinct for decade (see video below, documented by MeiLin Khoo). However, it may have flown from nearby Johore, Malaysia.

MeiLin Khoo
Singapore
5th May 2018

Reference:
Wang, L.K. & C. J. Hails, 2007. An annotated checklist of birds of Singapore. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Supplement 15: 1-179.

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behaviour 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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