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Blue-Crowned Hanging Parrots Foraging for Caterpillars

on 30th June 2012

“What do parrots eat? According to Wikipedia, the most important components of most parrots’ diets are seeds, nuts, fruits, buds and other plant material. A few species sometimes eat animals and carrion. The only animal food found in previous BESG postings for parrots was that of a bagworm ‘cocoon’ that the Red-Breasted Parakeets (Psittacula alexandri) were feasting on LINK. Now, we can add another record: the first animal food for the Blue-Crowned Hanging-parrot (Loriculus galgulus).

“I came across a flock of at least 3 Blue-Crowned Hanging-parrots foraging high in a tree recently. They were not easy to observe as they were foraging at a height of more than ten metres and were obstructed by foliage most of the time. It was a treat watching them walking calmly on the main stems of the compound leaves and hanging upside down to forage when they were in clear view.

‘After spending more than half an hour looking up, my tired neck was straining. But, the reward was some shots in good light, with a few sufficiently clear to show what the parrots were after (above). They were looking for caterpillars. Reviewing the heavily cropped pictures and checking from the time the images were taken, one female individual was seen handling three different caterpillars in a space of twenty minutes. All the caterpillars were not bashed before consumption. Two of them were gulped down without any fanfare, including one with the bird hanging in an upside down position. But one was seen in its bill for close to half a minute before disappearing down the parrot’s throat.

“I did not manage to capture the male parrot with food. But managed to capture a few images of this male individual, which was probably in moult (above). Its head, including its face and blue crown, was showing some whitish spiky projections that contrasted with its greenish plumage. Not sure whether these could be its new feathers.”

Kwong Wai Chong
Singapore
28th June 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

3 Responses

  1. Females tend to consume a little more animal protein prior to nesting and this behaviour is also observed in captivity.

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