Search

Brown Shrike caught a bullfrog

on 2nd December 2018

Johnny Wee’s images of a Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) caching a frog was documented at Bididari sometime ago. As typical of such butcher birds, it impaled the prey onto a sharp broken branch before tearing off pieces and swallowing them.

Dr Leong Tzi Ming, a researcher on amphibians and reptiles, has this to say of the prey: “Looks like a young American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus). This size is sold alive in fish shops for feeding carnivorous fishes. They are occasionally released into our green spaces where most would be consumed by a multitude of predators eventually, including this shrike.”

This frog, native to southern and eastern parts of the United States and Canada, has been introduced to many parts of the world, including Singapore. The bullfrog is cultured for food in the US as well as other countries LINK.

Johnny Wee & Dr Leong Tzi Ming
Singapore
29th November 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.

Other posts by YC Wee

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
599
9337
Visitors Today
51602937
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)