Oriental Pied Hornbill foraging like a woodpecker

YC Wee
on 3rd February 2011

“Was at Pasir Ris Park again this evening, and saw this Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) having a feast of caterpillars (I don’t know for sure they are caterpillars, as they were all found under the bark, while I thought caterpillars fed on leaves…?). It spent at least half an hour on one tree, hopping from branch to branch, sometimes vertically up the trunk, inspecting every nook and cranny on the bark that might hold a tasty morsel… and it pretty much hit the jackpot on this particular tree, gulping down an average of one caterpillar(?) every minute!

“Here are two clips, one is a close-up showing it peeling off bark to get at the caterpillar (above), and the other one where it got two caterpillars on one branch within seconds of each other… (below).”

Lena Chow
Singapore
27th January 2011

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the authors/contributors, and do not represent nor are they endorsed by the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore (LKCNHM, NUS) or any of NUS’s affiliates or subsidiaries. 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

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From looking at birds to studying birds: The story of the Bird Ecology Study Group:Part 6. Bird Group played the religion card.

2nd March 2025

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24th February 2025

From looking at birds to studying birds: The story of the Bird Ecology Study Group or BESG Part 4: Formation of BESG

14th February 2025

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