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Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher and spiders

on 18th June 2010

The Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx erithaca) takes a variety of foods that include insects, prawns, lizards, frogs and fish – as well as spiders.

The image above, taken in Singapore by Lee Tiah Khee, shows the kingfisher with a tarantula (Family Theraphosidae) clamped firmly at the tip of its bill. This biggish spider can be as big as 5 cm in length (excluding its legs), very hairy and generally live in burrows protected by a thick sheet web.

The image below by Chan Wei Luen was taken in Hulu Selangor, Malaysia. The spider is probably a huntsman spider (Family Sparassidae/Heteropodidae). These spiders are flattish and generally hide under loose bark or stones when they are not hunting.

Joseph Koh, a spider enthusiast and currently Singapore’s High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, was kind enough to identify the above spiders. It is noted that identifying spiders from photographic images has its limitations, considering that characters separating genera and species can be microscopic and need close handling of specimens.

An earlier post shows the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher with a possible ctenid spider (Ctenus sp., Family Ctenidae).

Since the start of our website, we have posted various accounts of birds catching spiders: Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis); Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis); and White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis).

Only in a few cases were the birds actually caught on images picking the spiders off webs: Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja siparaja); Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis); and Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna).

Top image by Lee Tiah Khee, bottom image by Chan Wei Luen.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

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

2 Responses

  1. In the second picture, the kingfisher is probably eating a spider under the family Hersilidae. Hersilidae spiders live on tree trunks and camouflages itself in the pattern and colours of the tree barks.
    This picture amazes me because most human won’t be able to notice Hersilidae spiders on trees, but kingfisher’s eyesight is sharp enough to spot the spider.

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