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Streaked Spiderhunter catching spiders

on 23rd February 2012

“The Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna) is the easiest spiderhunter to see and very common in the highlands.

“This Streaked Spiderhunter was part of a bird wave (mixed foraging party) of Silver-eared Mesias (Leiothrix argentauris tahanensis), Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica), an opportunist rather than actual part of mixed foraging party), minivets, etc.

“After a while it broke off from the rest as it spotted a spider web. It dropped to the ground to investigate and then climbed the low plant to prise open some closed leaves to get its prize (above).

“Although named ‘spiderhunter’, I seldom have seen spiderhunters in general take spiders. More often nectar from a variety of flowers and fruits. Their beaks usually heavily stained with pollen (left).

“At this same location we saw four Streaked Spiderhunters in two pairs using same area to forage.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
1,500m ASL, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
13th January 2012

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

4 Responses

  1. Nice one Amar. Despite its name, very few opportunities these days to see them serching out and catching spiders. As you rightly observed, spiderhunters generally seemed to be heading for pollens and nectars.

    Daisy

  2. It is an amazingly painful bird to handle. Its claws are longer and sharper than those of the House Swift or any of the Collocalia swiftlets.

  3. There are Streaked Spiderhunters nesting at Koh Lanta, Thailand. I have a villa at Klong Kong Beach and I see them early every morning. A slightly noise make them to quickly flay away. Maria

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