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Asian Koel eating Indian cherry

on 26th October 2007

More than a year ago, KC Tsang sent in images of a male Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) eating the fruits of Indian cherry (Muntingia calabura) in his father-in-law’s garden (left). I did not pay much attention to them then as these fruits are sought after by many species of birds.

Then last year KC sent in an interesting account of the Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonestigma) manipulating these fruits. And this year we had a whole series of images by Chan Yoke Meng of the same species of flowerpecker squeezing the contents of the fruits by a slightly different method.

Rediscovering the koel’s images eating the fruits, I was fascinated by the fact that this biggish bird simply swallows the fruit whole. Having a wide gape, koels can also swallow the fruits of the Alexandra palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae), to regurgitate the seeds in due course. There is no need to regurgitate seeds of the Indian cherry as they are small and numerous, easily passed through the gut to exit at the other end.

The Asian Koel is essentially a fruit eater. The different fruits taken include figs (Ficus spp.), papaya (Carica papaya), Morus, Zizyphus, Brazilian cherries (Eugenia uniflora), tamarind or assam (Tamarindus indica), Sterculia foetida, yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana) and fruits of mistletoes.

Palm fruits include fishtail palm (Caryota sp.), Chinese fan palm (Livistona chinensis) and oil palm (Elaies guineensis).

Also, flower nectar and flowers of blue pea (Clitoria ternatea).

The bird has also been reported to eat grasshoppers, caterpillars, snails and birds’ eggs.

KC Tsang & YC Wee
Singapore
September 2007

Reference:
Payne, R.B. (1997). Family Cuculidae (cucoos). Pp.508-607 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. eds. Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 4. Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Editions.

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

6 Responses

  1. Thanks for this bit of information …. there’s a Koel around my estate (Toa Payoh Central), and I’ve always wondered how it survived in such an urban environment. Now I know that the tree it has been hopping around in is an Indian Cherry tree, although I haven’t noticed its fruits before.

    Cheers, Jeff

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