“Was caught in a little forest birdwave today and heard simultaneous calls from Pin-striped Tit Babblers (Macronous gularis), a Van Hasselt’s Sunbird (formerly known as Purple-throated) (Leptcoma brasiliana), and a Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra).
“Above is a video of the Little Spiderhunter calling, with the sunbird tweeting in the background and a tailorbird (not sure which) trying to get some attention too.
“The image at the top shows... Read More
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The Birds of Singapore – an online book
In May 1943, GC Madoc published “An Introduction to Malayan Birds.” He wrote his manuscript in Singapore’s Changi Prison where he was interned when the country fell into the...
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Videocam: A powerful tool for studying birds
1. Collecting birds: In the 19th century the equipment needed to study birds was the gun. Another skill necessary was a good stuffing technique in order to preserve the specimens....
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Documenting bird calls and songs
Many local birdwatchers are able to recognise the birds behind the songs. However, interest in most cases ends there except for a few who make basic recordings. Erik Mobrand...
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Should attempts be made to tame wild birds?
The first part of the series by aviculturist Lee Chiu San deals with whether birds can be tamed and whether they will remain tamed. The second part looks at whether it is...
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Postings your observations and images
Why should you post your observations and images? Southeast Asian birds are poorly studied in terms of behaviour and ecology. By posting your observations (and this include...
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Nature Society: The struggle for Singapore’s nature areas
The above paper has just been published. Nature in Singapore is a peer-reviewed, online journal that publishes articles on the flora and fauna (e.g., biology, botany, zoology,...
Little Spiderhunter calling
“Was caught in a little forest birdwave today and heard simultaneous calls from Pin-striped Tit Babblers (Macronous gularis), a Van Hasselt’s Sunbird (formerly known as Purple-throated) (Leptcoma brasiliana), and a Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra).
“Above is a video of the Little Spiderhunter calling, with the sunbird tweeting in the background and a tailorbird (not sure which) trying to get some attention too.
“The image at the top shows... Read More
© BROWN BARBET EATS FRUIT WITH STYLE PART 5
“The law of nature has it that all living things eat to live and be productive… hopefully. Birds too eat to live by foraging and preparing themselves for reproduction – their ultimate purpose.
Very often in any birder’s observation, as soon as birds get their prey/foods, waste no time to eat them as quickly as possible before they lose their hard earned and precious catch/food to other predators or bring to feed their young.
“An interesting... Read More
Javan Myna Behaviour
“A bird cage hung high up on the outside of a fifth storey apartment in my condo attracted my attention when I noticed unusual movements outside the cage. A Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) was hopping around the cage. My initial thought was that it was harassing the poor confined Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus). Then I realised that it was, without invitation, pecking and feeding on the cut papaya meant for the caged bird.
“This is one of the many... Read More
© FORAGING BROWN BARBETS OF SE ASIA PART 3
The first part of this series can be found HERE and the second HERE.
“What sets Brown Barbets (Calorhamphus fuliginosus) in the genera of Barbets (Megalaiminae) apart from their cousins is that in taxonomic sense, they are free standing, belonging to a class of their own- ‘Calorhamphus’.
“Of smaller size as compared to their chunky big cousins, they are brown with no green plumage and also do not have rictal bristles to interestingly aid in catching flying... Read More
Poikilospermum suaveolens and birds
Goh Juanhui was at the Jelutong Tower in Central Catchment Reserve in May 2013 where he was attracted by a flowering epiphytic climber, Poikilospermum suaveolens (Family: Urticaceae). This appears to be the period when this plant is in flowers.
There were many birds attracted to the flowers because of their nectar – bulbuls, Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja) (above), Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma), and in particular the Greater Green Leafbird... Read More
Blue-rumped Parrot eats starfruit (Averrhoa carambola)
Ong Ei Leen was the first to post the Blue-rumped Parrot (Psittinus cyanurus) eating the starfruit (Averrhoa carambola) at Singapore’s Venus Loop by Lower Peirce Reservoir in mid-May 2013. This rare resident is a wasteful eater, scattering bits and pieces of the fruit on the ground below in his effort to get at the seeds. This male’s eating behaviour (above) is very much like that of the Tanimbar Corella (Cacatua goffini) LINK. While the Tanimbar Corella removes... Read More
Jungle Mynas eating oil palm fruits
An earlier post of a Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) eating an oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) fruit LINK reminded Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS that he had documented Jungle Mynas (Acridotheres fuscus torquatus) eating the same fruit. This was documented at Tanjung Rambutan Interior in Perak, Malaysia on 20th September 2009. So he sent in his images of a juvenile to share with others (below).
“A flock of adults and juvenile Jungle Myna were feeding on Oil Palm... Read More
Spotted Dove feeding on crepe ginger seeds
Lena Chow submitted a video and images of a Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) perching on top of the inflorescence of a ginger plant. In the absence of the large white flowers (left), she was unable to recognise the plant.
However, Jana SKORNICKOVA of the National Parks Board identified the plant as the crepe ginger (Cheilocostus speciosus, also known as Costus speciosus). We thank Chew Ping Ting, also of NParks, who was kind enough to pass around the images to various... Read More
Plain Sunbird – feeding behaviour
“Over the years, I have observed the Plain Sunbird (Anthreptes simplex) feeding on a variety of foods:
1. The small black fruit/seeds of the Blue Mahang (Macaranga heynei) – their favourite.
2. Fruit of the Common Mahang (Macaranga bancana)
3. Animal prey including spiders
“Wells (2007) states “No confirmation of this behaviour (nectar feeding) seems to exist for the review area.”
“Today was able to better document them actually feeding on nectar.... Read More
Javan Myna eats Elaeis guineensis fruit
Johnny Wee seeing a Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) picking up a fruit of the Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineensis) from the ground may appear a common sight to birdwatchers, if they take any notice of the bird at all. But to a photographer, this is something to document. And yes, it is a new record for BESG as it has still not been recorded in our list of Plant-Bird Relationship LINK.
Javan Myna is an omnivorous bird that eats almost anything, plants as well as animals. In... Read More
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