An early post on the Greater Green Leafbird feeding on the Indian cherry (Muntinia calabura) mentions three species of flowerpeckers also feeding on the fruit LINK. This post is a continuation, describing the feeding behaviour of these three flowerpeckers. This is an excellent bird tree, attracting plentiful birds whenever fruits are available as documented in this website.
“There are at least 3 species of flowerpeckers that love the Muntingia calabura fruit. Yellow-vented Flowerpecker (Dicaeum chrysorrheum chrysorrheum), Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (D. trigonostigma trigonostigma) and Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (D. cruentatum).
“Their technique of feeding is quite different.
“The Yellow-vented Flowerpecker is the master (above) LINK. It will choose a very ripe soft fruit, pluck it completely and then almost ‘magically’ able to drain them. Even the larger Greater Green Leafbirds (Chloropsis sonnerati zosterops) are not able to do this.
“Orange-bellied (above) LINK and Scarlet-backed (below) LINK Flowerpeckers are not so adapt. They look for really ripe fruit and then peck at it to get an opening and then piece meal address the fruit. Occasionally loosing it in the process as ripe fruit tends to dislodge and fall.”
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
(Village at fringe of primary jungle)
14th November 2012
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