Odd behaviour of the Brown Barbet

on 4th December 2011

“On 9th February 2010 at the Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, I saw/posted an odd behaviour of an adult female Brown Barbet (Calorhamphus fuliginosus hayii). It was high in the jungle canopy and saw it intentionally biting on a dried twig which it broke off (left).

“On 15th February 2011 at the Burmese Pool Trail, Taiping, Perak, I watched the same behaviour by an adult female and an adult male. The adult would walk or hop along a horizontal branch, again high up in a tree (10-12 meters up). It would then carefully/systematically inspect the underside of these branches. It would rip out a portion of the bark to look for prey. Even thin branches were also inspected, as were branches heavily saprophyted LINK. I then assumed that the earlier behaviour I watched was also a foraging activity.
.

“On 15th October 2011, Ulu Kinta Forest Reserve, Perak, I saw an adult male (was the tail end of a mix foraging party/bird wave) pick up a dried stick and manipulate it in the beak to secure it and then flew off with it (above). I am now re-evaluating the first and third observations. I wonder if these twigs are used in some nesting activity (lining the nest)?

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
15th October 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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