“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
Asian Koel – Attempts To Mate?
“Once again, the apparent conflict calls of Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) was in the air in my condominium yesterday morning. It was about 8.30 am when I heard the commotion. Thinking that it was coming from the Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia rosea) in front of me, I quickly switched on my camera to document the calls, which were that of a male that sounded like kow-kow-kow and kwok-kwok-kwok, and that of a female that sounded like high pitch gig-gig. As it turned out,... Read More
Asian Koel – Aggression or Duetting?
“Two or more Asian Koels (Eudynamys scolopacea) in apparent confrontation is a scene commonly seen or heard in locations where there are House Crows (Corvus splendens) and Asian Koels. These usually happen in the early mornings or evenings. Their antics has been recorded by YC LINK, Lena Chow LINK and Kwong Wai Chong LINK.
“In the area around my condominium, the behaviour is also frequently heard but more difficult to observe because the actions take place high... 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
Ashy Tailorbird – vocalisation…
On 4th April 2013, Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS visited his favourite birding spot in Tambun Interior, Perak, Malaysia. This is a fish and vegetable farming area among the ex-mining pools and scenic limestone hills around.
The area is an excellent spot to view the Ashy Tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps cineraceus). A number of pairs were around, some just starting breeding process, others feeding fledged juveniles. The adults were in full breeding plumage (above: adult male)... Read More
Asian Fairy-bluebird’s whistle
The above video clip of the Asian Fairy-bluebird (Irena puella) whistling its typical whee-eet, whee-eet, whee-eet call was documented by Jeremiah Loei at Singapore’s Bukit Timah Nature Reserve in September 2012.
BESG has compiled a catalogue of bird calls and songs of Singapore and Malaysian birds that can be accessed HERE. The catalogue is open ended and new recordings added regularly.... Read More
Straw-headed Bulbul contact call
“Further to an earlier post LINK, I now have a video of a Straw-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) actually making the ‘clicking’ contact/alarm call in the last clip of the previous post.
“In my hurry to capture the action, I had not changed my camera’s settings, so apologies for the poor visual quality.”
Lena Chow
Singapore
6th April... Read More
Female Olive-backed Sunbird Sips Nectar – In Slow Motion
“The swimming pool and play ground area in my condo have many flowering plants. These offer plenty of opportunities to observe sunbirds which come to enjoy the nectar. The edited video shows a female Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis) sips nectar of the Heliconia psittacorum ‘Lady Di’. This is one of the most popular Heliconia cultivars in Singapore.
“The video clip was recorded on 8th Jan 2013 with the 100 fps high speed feature of my new... Read More
Birds in different regions have their own variations of calls
“On our recent trip to Taiwan, my bird guide and me were comparing the calls of my favourite ball of feathers, the Collared Owlet (Glaucidium brodiei). The Taiwanese Collared Owlet call was slower, and more mellow, while the one I have from Malaysia’s Fraser’s Hill was faster and sharper. So I tried using my Fraser’s Hill Collared Owlet call to see if I can get any reaction – absolutely no response, they just ignored it.
“So from this... Read More
Steere’s Liocichla
“Reminscent of the Silver-eared Mesia (Mesia argentauris) of Fraser’s Hill, we encountered this colourful species [Steere’s Liocichla (Liocichla steerii)] almost everywhere in the Central Highlands of Taiwan where we have just returned from a week of birding (above).
“Quite an interesting character too: screeching incessantly to a bird in the next tree, twisting and turning as if on continuous playback (above).
“Sometimes it gives off a sweet... Read More
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