Plant-Bird Relationship: 7. Loranthaceae

The earlier series: 1. Need for a Catalogue LINK; 2. Moraceae LINK; 3. Euphorbiaceae LINK; 4. Poaceae LINK; 5. Fabaceae LINK and 6. Palmae LINK.

Members of the plant family Loranthaceae are what is commonly termed as tropical mistletoe. They are semi-parasites, usually attached to the branches of host plants. Leaves are simple and in opposites. Flowers are unisexual or bisexual and the fruits are berry-like, one-seeded and often covered with a stick layer of gum-like substance.

In the following list, the different species of birds that visit the plant are listed below each plant species. Details are as follows:
1. Common name of bird.
2. Whether for food, to forage for insects, to roost, to collect nesting material or to nest.
3. Author of the post.
4. Date of posting
5. Habitat if in Singapore (BTNR = Bukit Timah Nature Reserve), otherwise country.
6. Link to the actual post on the website.

[Dendrophthoe penatndra l-r: flowers, fruits and seedling growing on a host branch]

Loranthaceae
1. Dendrophthoe pentandra (Malayan mistletoe)
Flowerpeckers
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker; fruit_AngieNg_270106_urban – LINK
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: fruit_YCWee_050206_urban-garden – LINK
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: nectar_JasonCho_120509_rural – LINK
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: nectar_YCWee_221007_urban-garden – LINK
Parakeets
Long-tailed Parakeet: fruit_YCWee_100311_urban-garden – LINK
Long-tailed Parakeet: fruit_YCWee_301010_urban-garden – LINK
Sunbirds
Brown-throated Sunbird: nectar_TeoSiyang_230712_park – LINK
Crimson Sunbird: fruit_YCWee_040606_urban-garden – LINK
Olive-backed Sunbird: fruit_YCWee_050206_urban-garden – LINK
Olive-backed Sunbird: fruit-AngieNg_050206_urban-garden – LINK
Olive-backed Sunbird: nectar_YCWee_221007_urban-garden – LINK

2. Macrosolen cochinchinensis (common Chinese mistletoe)
Flowerpeckers
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: (fruit_AngieNg_050206-urban-garden – LINK
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: fruit_YCWee_050206_urban-garden – LINK
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: fruit_YCWee_260206_urban-garden – LINK
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: seed-dispersal_ChanYokeMeng_101007_urban – LINK
Hanging-parrots
Blue-crowned Hanging-parrot: nectar_YCWee_170907_urban-garden – LINK
Leafbirds
Blue-winged Leafbird: nectar_CalvinChang_130609_Johor-Malaysia – LINK
Sunbirds
Brown-throated Sunbird: fruit_YCWee_260206_urban-garden – LINK
Olive-backed Sunbird: fruit_YCWee_050206_urban-garden – LINK
Olive-backed Sunbirds: fruit_AngieNg_050206-urban-garden – LINK