Dr. Redzlan Abdul Rahman has managed to photograph a Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) in the act of eating a Benjamin fig or waringin (Ficus benjamina) (above). The images clearly shows the bird swallowing the fig whole.
Mark Chua’s image (left) shows the bulbul swallowing a frg from the bodh tree (F. religiosa).
An earlier post showed that birds either swallow the figs whole, bite off pieces or mash up the figs before swallowing. The method of eating obviously depends on the size of the figs involved.
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Images of the benjamin fig by Dr. Redzlan Abdul Rahman and that of bodh by Mark Chua.
MaineBirder
Stunning images! I thought watching a Cedar Waxwing swallowing large blueberries from our yard was a little over the top. Amazing!
Bird Ecology Study Group
[…] birds and chillies? Well, on 9th February 2009, Sun Chong Hong wrote in response to a post on a Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) swallowing figs […]
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[…] Study Group Nests of the Yellow-vented Bulbul Yellow Page advertising is a waste of money? …Bird Ecology Study Group Yellow-vented Bulbul swallows figsDr. Redzlan Abdul Rahman has managed to photograph a Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) in […]
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[…] Chinese Garden LINK. Redzian, A. R. & Mark Chua, 2009. Yellow-vented bulbul swallows figs LINK. Subaraj, R., 2006. The fig tree at Bukit Timah: 2. Comments by R. Subaraj LINK. Wee, Johnny, Y. M. […]