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Macaranga bancana and spiderhunters

on 21st November 2009

A number of accounts of Macaranga bancana attracting sunbirds, bulbuls and other birds were posted earlier. These observatins were made at Ipoh’s Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve in the Malaysian state of Perak by Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS during his forays on 21st and 24th October 2008.

There were three Grey-breasted Spiderhunters (Arachnothera modesta modesta), coming repeatedly to feed over a period of an hour and a half, making a total of about 20 visits. They were rather selective, picking only the ripe fruit (above). Once a fruit was picked, the bird had to “juggle the fruit” so that it went down the long beak and into the throat.

Smithies (1999) and Wells (2007) both report that this spiderhunter takes nectar and insects, although the latter mentions earlier authors reporting seeds in the diet but “These have not been explained as there is no other evidence of a fruit component in the diet of this or any other local spiderhunter.”

The Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra cinereicollis) was also observed twice, a single bird each time. Unfortunately no pictures of feeding are available.

Well, we are providing photographic evidence of a spiderhunter eating fruits.

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Perak, Malaysia
21-24th October 2009

References:
1.
Smythies, B. E., 1999. Birds of Borneo. Natural History Publications & The Sabah Society, Kota Kinabalu. (4th ed., revised). 853 pp.
2. Wells, D.R., 2007. The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. II, Passerines. Christopher Helm, London. 800 pp.

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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