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Chestnut-bellied Malkoha takes a draco

YC Wee
on 21st February 2011

Cheong Weng Chun photographed an adult malkoha with a gliding lizard in its bill during a guiding assignment in Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Malaysia on 14th Jan 2011. The malkoha had its mandibles clamped on the neck of the lizard and was thrashing it in the air. Once the lizard became lifeless, the malkoha flew off to pass the prey to its juvenile. The latter was rather inexperienced in handling the lizard but finally managed to handle it properly. Check out the video above.

According to R Subaraj, “The malkoha is a Chestnut-bellied Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus sumatranus). The draco is probably a Common Gliding Lizard (Draco sumatrana).

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

Bird Society of Singapore: A credible alternative to the Nature Society’s Bird Group

11th December 2023

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

18th August 2023

Singapore’s secret “garden”

20th July 2023

Singapore-Nature: 15. Looking versus studying birds

12th July 2023

5 Responses

    1. Thanks. I happened to be there at the right time (under the hot late morning sun).

      Anyway, I found an article on brood care of chestnut-bellied
      malkoha,
      it mentioned that the parents did not return to the chick for hours after a
      meal of *D. sumatranus* and it is assumed that the parent have either
      abandoned the chick since it is fully feathered or probably continue feeding
      in thicker vegetation.

      Reply

  3. Hi, I chanced upon a nesting sight and need some advise. can you kindly assist. I hear the last sightings were in 2008.

    Reply

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Any views and opinions expressed in the articles 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.

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