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Video of Common Iora feeding Banded-bay Cuckoo fledgling

on 24th June 2011

Our earlier post by Francis Yap documented a Banded-bay Cuckoo (Cacomantis sonneratii) fledgling being fed by an adult Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia) in photographs LINK.

Francis has now documented a video of a similar feeding (above). Taken at the same location but about a month apart, this is a different Banded-bay Cuckoo that “looked a bit younger at the time of the video capture compared to the previous cuckoo that was photographed. This was based on it’s appearance and the fact that the previous cuckoo was much more active in flying about. I have no way of determining the age of the Common Iora host. This goes to prove that the Banded Bay Cuckoos have been pretty successful in parasitising the Common Ioras [in Singapore] this year.”

The video has been able to show certain behavioural traits that images fail to show. For one, it is noted that the fledgling vibrates only one wing and not both whenever the oriole approaches it with food (above). When the oriole approaches from the left, the fledgling vibrates its left wing. When the foster parent approaches from the right the cuckoo vibrates its right wing.

Another trait the video clearly shows is that the fledgling remains where it is with bill agape whenever the iora arrives with food. The iora then moves in to place the food into the gaping red throat. Only then does the fledgling lunges forward, hoping for a second feed (above). And invariably the adult moves aside or flies off.

This again shows the superiority of the video over the digital camera in the study of bird behaviour LINK.

Francis Yap
Singapore
June 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.

Other posts by YC Wee

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