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Greater Flameback ‘kissing’

on 22nd August 2009

Terence Ang of My Birding & Raptor Field Trip made an interesting observation when he came across a pair of Greater Flameback (Chrysocolaptes lucidus) in Penang, Malaysia. The male was actively brushing his bill against that of the female. This went on a number of times before the latter decided to move up the branch. The male did not give up as he followed the female who then flew off.

“Could this behaviour observed a part of the courtship?” asked Terence.

Ravens often indulge in mutual mouthing between pairs, less often seen in crows. This may develop into sharp jabs and brief fighting. Such behaviour is termed allobilling.

A pair of Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) posted earlier may be indulging in allobilling but this would depend on what they were doing before and after the act. Unfortunately this was not observed. In some birds like Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus), bill-touching occurs when the female tries to coax the male to regurgitate food. But this is not allobilling, nor is mutual transfer of food.

Birds also indulge in allopreening as seen in a pair of White-crested Laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus).

More observations need to be done to note what the birds are doing before and after touching bills. This is a seldom reported behaviour outside of ravens and crows and we need more observations before we fully understand the phenomenon.

Reference:
Marzluff, J. M. & Angell, T. (2005). In the company of crows and ravens. New Haven & London: Yale University Press. (p166)

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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