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Collared Kingfisher caught a juvenile sunbird

on 27th February 2019

Hubert Pak’s images of a Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) with a recently caught sunbird between its mandibles may look gruesome, but it is part of the food chain. Images of birds catching and even tearing away at a fish, for example, generally do not elicit any response from viewers. Why? Maybe because we view a bird, especially a sunbird, as pretty, cute, lovable, adorable…?

Kingfishers are not exclusively fish eaters. The take a wide range of animal foods that include worms, molluscs, crustaceans, centipedes, spiders, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals – and of course also fish. As for plant foods, kingfishers rarely, if at all, take fruits or flower nectar.

Collared Kingfisher regularly takes sunbirds LINK as well as other birds as well.

Hubert Pak
Singapore
23rd February 2019

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

2 Responses

  1. I think it’s the cannibalistic behaviour that shocks more than anything else. It’s unsettling whenever you see an animal eating another of its own kind. E.g. Imagine a human being eating another human.

  2. Not more cannibalistic than a Human eating another animal species of the same class – such as Humans eating cows or pigs. Still shocking to see.

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