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Olive-backed Sunbird: Nest building

on 10th June 2009

“The nesting behavior of the omnipresent Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) is markedly different from the Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) in that in the former, nest material gathering and nest building duties are performed by the female alone, with the male manifesting by the side singing a hastening song in an effort to hasten the female to complete their love nest soon.

“During the infantile stage of nest building process, the female may select from a range of building materials like cobwebs and apply it as natural glue to facilitate nest assembly. During this process the female often perform in-flight hovering act just before arriving at the nest, presumably to obtain a clear perspective of where to insert the natural glue for best placement. At the same time, the male may be observed to hover around the nest, again presumably to exert its male dominance on the female to complete the nest. Images attached show female returning to nest with trailing cobwebs and cobwebs in beak (above left) and male bird hovering before nest (above right). Perhaps it is this hovering in-flight behavior of these pin-sized feathers that some may easily mistaken them to be humming birds.”

Dr Jeff Lim
Singapore
19th May 2009

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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