Search

Emerald Dove – immature bird feeding

on 21st February 2019

“I was privileged to meet a very accommodating immature Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica indica) in dense jungle (below).

“I first saw it fly in to perch on a tree and then descend to the open ground under dense jungle canopy. I followed and approached slowly and we reached an agreement at ~ 4 meters. I was allowed to watch feeding behaviour for a long period as it moved about on the forest floor.

“Feeding consisted mainly of finding fallen seeds/fruit in the dense leaf litter. The vast majority were small fruits/seeds but occasionally it took large ones (above, below).

“Fruit/seeds were not processed but swallowed whole. It used the beak to push aside leaves to find food items; it did not use the feet. Images were taken under dark canopy with high ISO; the constant head bobbing as the bird walks makes sharp images a challenge. No flash was used.

“I attempted some videos using a dead branch as a prop (some parts a bit choppy) – see edited video clip below.

“The three images below show the plumage of this immature bird.

“Note the pale, almost ring like appearance round the eye. The ‘supercilium’ above the eye could be early development of the white that is seen above the eye and extending behind it.

“The pale grey bands that cross the lower back are already in development. There is barring on the neck, front and sides of the breast. The bill and feet have yet to develop any adult colours.

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
27th September 2018

Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: 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.

Other posts by YC Wee

One Response

  1. The emerald dove is quite common in the lowland forests of mountain ranges in South India. I have often noticed these birds foraging in the middle of highways that traverse through the forests and are probably adapted to feed on grain spills from trucks apart from fallen fruits. The emerald dove is the ‘state bird’ of Tamil Nadu too.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
1111
15897
Visitors Today
51730787
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)