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Dusky Broadbill builds a nest

on 9th October 2009

Irfan Choo’s image shows a Dusky Broadbill’s (Corydon sumatranus) putting the final touches to its massive nest. This species is well known for its cooperative breeding behaviour. As many as 20 birds have been known to help in the building of the nest. Whether they also assist in incubation, brooding and other aspects of the breeding cycle have yet to be documented.

This huge nest is suspended from the hooked end of a rattan’s frond. Made up of twigs, pieces of roots, dried leaves and masses of the epiphytic fern dragon’s tail (Pyrrosia piloselloides), the surface is embellished with spider’s silk and caterpillar excreta.

The nest is suspended over an open forest clearing, pool or river, safe from most predators. The thorny suspensor discourages predators from moving in from above.

The messy nest looks like a bunch of dried leaves and twigs that does not generally attraction attention.

The Dusky Broadbill is a former resident of Singapore, now locally extinct. It is a common resident in nearby Peninsular Malaysia.

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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