Search

Long-tailed Sibia feeding on moths

on 13th October 2010

KC Tsang’s video shows two separate feeding, the first, a Long-tailed Sibia (Heterophasia picaoides) attempting to feed on what looks like a dead moth. The sibia fails to swallow the moth as its wings are apparently in the way. It tries hard to remove the wings by pecking on them without success. It flies to another location, holding on to a wing in its bill and dropping the moth onto the surface a few times without success. Finally it lands on a grassy patch where it uses its foot to hold the dead moth against the ground in an effort to detach one set of wings. It fails to remove the wings and flies off the video’s reach.

The second feeding shows another Long-tailed Sibia tackling an orange moth with wings outstretched. The sibia holds on to the base of a wing, flying from one perch to another. It eventually holds the moth against the perch with a foot and pecks on the abdomen, taking bits of flesh and sending numerous scales scattering in the breeze. Note the feathery pair of antennae that characterises a moth. One pair of wings is finally detached and the sibia targets the remaining pair without success. Further feeding on the abdomen causes it to lose hold of what is left of the moth but it manages to get it back.

Note: Images are screen grabs. From left to right, first two shows first feeding, last two show second feeding.

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

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
707
7473
Visitors Today
51619429
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)