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Spiderhunters and African tulip

on 11th July 2009

Adrian Lim a.k.a. wmw998 photographed a Spectacled Spiderhunter (Arachnothera flavigaster) visiting the flowers of the African tulip (Spathodea campanulata) to feed on the nectar (above). Along came a Yellow-eared Spiderhunter (A. chrysogenys) but was chased away by the former. The Yellow-eared had to wait its turn to get at the nectar.

An earlier post shows how the Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) robs the flower of nectar by puncturing it at its base. Spiderhunters have a longer bill and it would be interesting to find out whether the bird takes the nectar from the top of the flower or, like the bulbul, from below.

Image by Adrian Lim.

This post is a cooperative effort between 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

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