Search

House (Pacific) Swallow collecting nesting material

on 7th October 2009

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS encountered a pair of Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica javanica) at Tambun Interior, Perak, Malaysia on 18th July 2009. An adult was carrying a piece of nesting material accompanied by its mate.

“Notice that in the composite image on the left, the pair is very different in their colour scheme. The one in the foreground with the straw for the nest has a less rich plumage, especially the mantle.

“The difference is not just due to lighting (they were in the same light, same angle, just could not focus on both together). It is not supposedly possible to separate male from females (in filed guides, literature) but I would say the lighter one is a female.

“One possibility is the lighter one has recently become an adult and has not developed full plumage yet? Another is that the male has developed a richer “breeding” plumage? Any comments would be welcome. Usually only one of the pair collects nesting material (Smythies, 1999).”

Reference:
Smythies, B. E., 1999. Birds of Borneo. Natural History Publications & The Sabah Society, Kota Kinabalu. (4th ed., revised). 853 pp.

All images by Amar-Singh HSS (Dato, Dr)

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

3 Responses

  1. I believe that the bird in the foreground is a sub-adult. The key feature that is still visible to indicate that it has not fully become an adult, is its pale gape.

    There also appears to be a little white showing on the dorsal of the bird, which usually indicates some moulting is still taking place.

    Is this sub-adult mature enough to be paired off and contemplate nesting? Or, is the collecting of nest material merely a practice session? I think that the latter is more likely as many immature birds are known to conduct such practice sessions.

  2. The editor of Oriental Bird Images (Krys Kazmierczak) made this
    comment about the images when I posted them, there: “It is possible that the left-hand bird is simply more worn and
    bleached from the sun.”

  3. Pingback: montane forest

Leave a Reply to Subaraj Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
621
12444
Visitors Today
51785571
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)