Birds and their reflections

YC Wee
on 5th September 2007

bbb10.jpg

Johnny Wee returned from Perth, Australia recently and sent in these images of a crow acting aggressively when confronted by its image in the car’s side mirror. Yes, all over the world birds react the same when they see their image on a shiny surface.

While on this subject, I am also posting two other images sent in earlier – one on the Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) by Dr Jonathan Cheah Weng Kwong (below left) and the other on the Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) by Allan Teo (below right).

Readers are referred to a number of earlier posts on other species of birds and their reactions to their own reflections 1, 2.

aaa14.jpg

Johnny Wee
Singapore
September 2007

Images by Johnny (crow); Dr Jonathan Cheah Weng Kwong (shrike) and Allan Teo (hornbill).

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

From looking at birds to studying birds: The story of the Bird Ecology Study Group.

31st January 2025

Thailand Hornbills

17th January 2025

From looking at birds to studying birds: The story of the Bird Ecology Study Group Part 2: Photographing Birds

5th January 2025

From looking at birds to studying birds: The story of the Bird Ecology Study Group. Part 1: Looking at Birds.

12th December 2024

Good Stories Movement

14th September 2024

5 responses

  2. generations of undergrads studying at the Science Library have been woken up from their stupor by a frantic tapping on the windows (from the outside). lest they think it’s a cat burglar trying to get in, it’s actually a black-naped oriole being territorial and pecking at its own reflection when its perched on the railing near to the window pane…

    Reply
  4. Pingback: Bird Ecology Study Group » Bird reflection: Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
  5. Pingback: Bird Ecology Study Group » Grey Wagtail confronts its reflection

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Recent Comments
Categories
Archives
Links

Overall visits (since 2005)

Clustrmaps (since 2016)

Site Announcements

Welcome to our new home: besgroup.org

Thanks to your continued support in making the website one of the top bird behaviour blogs around, we now have a dedicated domain.

Any views and opinions expressed in the articles 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.

© 2025 Bird Ecology Study Group
Facebook