Search

Yellow-vented Bulbul swallowing Muntingia calabura fruit

on 6th December 2012

Lim Sheau Torng documented a new feeding behaviour of the Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) when eating the fruits of the Indian cherry (Muntingia calabura).

The Yellow-vented Bulbul picked a fruit and tried to swallow it. It failed, possibly because its gape is not wide enough. The bird then pushed the fruit out and flattened it before successfully swallowing in on the second attempt.

The Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum) has been earlier reported eating the fruit by squeezing it between its mandibles to drain the juicy content into its throat, discarding the shell after, as seen in this video. The Yellow-vented Flowerpecker (Dicaeum chrysorrheum) similarly eats the fruit the same way LINK.

Lim Sheau Tong
Singapore
December 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

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
675
9489
Visitors Today
51621444
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)