Migrant raptor defending its territory I

on 20th January 2009

“On January 13th, 2009, I was conducting a survey, with Pei Xin, at Seletar Camp. As we walked down a coastal road, we heard loud and urgent calls coming overhead. As we watched, an Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) flew over being pursued closely by a Chinese Goshawk (Accipiter soloensis).

“The larger and bulkier cuckoo was screaming loudly as if its life was in danger. The smaller goshawk chased the cuckoo a couple of times before flying away.

“Obviously, the cuckoo was too large to be the goshawk’s meal. So why was it chasing the cuckoo? At a brief glance, the cuckoo could be mistaken for another accipiter, so I wonder whether the goshawk was merely chasing away what it thought could be a food competitor within it’s winter territory. Of cause cuckoos pose no competition to raptors as they are mainly insectivores.

“The Chinese Goshawk is mainly a passage migrant through Singapore. However, over the years, we have recorded the odd individual holding a winter territory at a few sites, such as MacRitchie and Bukit Timah. These winter territories appear to be mainly at the edge of wooded areas. The Indian Cuckoo, which is also a migrant here, tends to also winter and/or utilize such wooded areas.”

Subaraj Rajathurai
January 2009

Image of Indian Cuckoo by Johnny Wee.

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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