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Food of the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher

on 21st December 2007

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The nesting of at least two pairs of Oriental Dwarf Kingfishers (Ceyx erithacus) in June 2007 in Panti forest, Johor, Malaysia allowed many photographers to document the food habits of this bird, especially the food fed to the chicks.

Irfan Choo is sharing with us his images of the variety of foods brought back for the chicks that include amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans and fishes.

In Singapore, the food fed to the chicks of the Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) include forest cockroach, beetle, earthworm, centipede and gecko, among others.

A pair of White-throated Kingfishers (Halcyon smyrnensis) was also observed bringing different species of lizards, frogs, insects and even a big spider.

Generally, kingfishers do not necessarily feed fish to their chicks, preferring a wide range of foods, including invertebrates like worms, centipedes, insects, molluscs and crustaceans. They also eat vertebrates like amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

Input and images courtesy of Irfan Choo – www.irfanchoo.com

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.

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