Search

Black-capped Kingfisher catching a fiddler crab

on 4th May 2008

11132.jpg

This documentation of a Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) catching a fiddler crab was made in the Mai Po marshes of Hongkong (above). Jianzhong Liu a.k.a Jz first posted the images in NaturePixels.org in March 2008

The Black-capped Kingfisher breeds in the Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Indochina and Korea. It winters in many parts of Southeast Asia. In Singapore as well as in Hongkong, it is a rare winter visitor and passage migrant, although Hongkong sees an occasional bird during summer.

The bird is seen mainly in tidal mudflats feeding on crustaceans. Along the coasts it takes mainly crabs and fish. Elsewhere, it may take beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, bees and wasps. Occasionally it takes frogs and lizards.

11133.jpg2227.jpg

The kingfisher usually perches on a convenient location to survey the surroundings. From here it flies out to take the prey. In this particular case, it hovered above the crab for a moment, its wings flapping up and down, in order to maintain its position (above, below left).

11134.jpg2228.jpg

It suddenly drew its wings upwards and plunged down into the mud (above right). At the same time when it landed, it expertly picked up the crab in its bill (below). Then, with a great effort, it brought its wings downwards to provide lift and flew off with its prize between its bill (top). Normally, just before plunging, its nictitating membrane will cover its eyes to provide protection. However, this has not been captured in the images.

3332.jpg

The crab is a smallish calling crab, also known as fiddler crab, recognised by its distinctively asymmetric claws. According to Prof Peter KL Ng, the crab expert at the National University of Singapore, it is possibly Uca vocans or Uca lactea. The crab in the images appears to be a male as it has an over-sized claw that was waved in the air in a futile attempt at dissuading the kingfisher’s advance. This large claw is also waved around during courtship to attract females.

Why the crab decided to stand its ground and not scuttle into its burrow is a puzzle, considering the huge threat looming above.

References:
1.
Carey, G.J., Chalmers, M.L., Diskin, D.A., Kennerley, P.R., Leader, P.J., Leven, M.R., Lewthwaite, R.W., Melville, D.S., Turnbull, M. & Young, L. (2001). The avifauna of Hong Kong. Hong Kong Bird Watching Society.
2. Wells, D.R. (1999). The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. I, Non-passerines. Academic Press, London.
3. Woodall, P.F. (2001). Family Alcedinidae (Kingfishers). Pp. 130-249 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. eds. (2001). Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 6. Mousebirds to Hornbills. Barcelona: Lynx Editions.

All images by Jianzhong Liu.

This post is a cooperative effort between www.naturepixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

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

One Response

Leave a Reply

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

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
1042
30711
Visitors Today
51769712
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)