This composite image of a female Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata wrayi) in the act of extracting a larva/pupa from its protective silky casing was taken by Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS on 30th September 2009. He was at the mossy forest of Gunong Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia at about 2,000m altitude. The day was wet, misty and windy, and he documented the entire series with a hand-held Nikon D90 SLR with Tamron AF Zoom 200-500mm attached.
“This female Black-throated Sunbird, whose mate was foraging near by, took the trouble to extract its prey from under the leaf once she spotted them. I am not sure if they are pupae or a type of spider but there were a number of them. She kept pulling at the web/silk until it tore and she had access to the prize. Then she swallowed the prey, followed by the obligatory beak wipe on a branch.
“This sunbird often goes for nectar but also eats insects.”
Images by Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS.
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