Large-billed Crow takes ceram palm fruit

YC Wee
on 1st March 2011

An account has been earlier posted on Asian Glossy Starlings (Aplonis panayensis), Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) and Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus) eating the fruits of the ceram palm (Rhopaloblaste ceramica).

Now, the Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) has been added to the list of birds feeding on these fruits. KC Tsang agreed that the crow is Large-billed. Nature consultant R Subaraj added, “The first photo (above left) certainly seems to indicate a Large-billed Crow…with that heavy bill and jet black plumage. The orange gape lines (above right, arrowed) would certainly indicate an immature bird, as would the seemingly lack of a bump on the head. …what would a crow be doing foraging on palm fruits? That is more koel-like behaviour.”

The Large-billed Crow is an omnivorous scavenger. Besides animal food, it also takes plant food as well – fruits, nectar and petals.

YC Wee, R Subaraj & KC Tsang
Singapore
February 2011

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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2 responses

  1. I have also seen a large-billed crow carry off an oil-palm fruit to a nearby tree for processing, which explains why the oil palm is slowly naturalizing in Singapore.

    Reply
  2. Pingback: Bird Ecology Study Group Asian Glossy Starling eating Ceram Palm fruits

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