Neck-Twisting Spotted Dove

on 9th March 2012

“Saw a Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) in the usual sunning posture under the mid-day sun (see attached image). After a while it stood up, and surprised me with some unusual movements when it moved the neck and flicked its head 4 times in quick succession. With the mandibles wide opened, it looked like it was trying to regurgitate. And with the flicking movements, it appeared as though it was trying to get rid of a pest from its head. It then stopped briefly to scratch the right side of its head and continued with the neck-head movement one more time.

“Because of limited resolution, repeated viewing of the recorded video – frame by frame – could not verify whether there was anything regurgitated. Neither was there any sign of flying insect around the head.

“The video, recorded on 29 Jan 2012, with the sound track cleaned to remove traffic and digitisation noise, can be viewed above.

“Would anyone care to venture a guess of what the bird was doing?”

Sun Chong Hong
Singapore
20th February 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.

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