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Yellow-vented Flowerpecker eating the Indian cherry

on 11th May 2009

The Yellow-vented Flowerpecker (Dicaeum chrysorrheum) shown here, deals with the soft berry of the Indian cherry tree (Muntingia calabura) in a unique manner. It picks up the ripe fruit from the tree, brings it to a perch where it begins to enjoy it (above). Instead of swallowing the soft berry whole, it crushes it with its mandibles to enjoy the sweet pulp (below). The soft skin of the berry is then discarded.

In doing this, the flowerpecker avoids taking in extra bulk and of course, extra weight. In this way it can enjoy more fruits. The juicy pulp of the fruits includes the many small seeds that are subsequently discarded through its other end some distance away. This benefits the plant as the bird effectively disperses the seeds.

Indian cherry spreads far and wide this way. It was once a common and popular wayside tree in Singapore, fast-growing and attracting much wildlife. But then the many birds that congregate when the tree is in fruits dirty the ground below, requiring extra efforts to clean up the area. So the tree is now put on the “hit list” of the relevant authorities. Indian cherry can now be seen mostly far from urban areas.

We have a few earlier posts on the Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonestigma): 1, 2, 3 and one on the Yellow-vented Flowerpecker 4 eating the Indian cherry.

Input and Images by Ingo Waschkies.

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

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