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Masked Finfoot – immature male sighted in Ipoh

on 14th January 2013

“From a far distance I saw a bird perched on a tree branch at eye level, grooming itself constantly. I wasn’t quite sure it was a finfoot because of many branches obstructing the view of the whole bird. Watching through the binoculars I initially thought that it was a White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus). After careful checking all the details I noticed the feet and bill looked rather bigger than the normal waterhen. I quickly checked through the scope and was extremely excited as it was an immature male Masked Finfoot (Heliopais personata)!

“Checking back on a few videos captured, I saw he caught a big moth and a snail, held the snail between his bill, broke the shell then driving into the water and emerging with the meat in his bill. He was occasionally seen jumping up or constantly poking his head up for something like an insect (damselfly?) from the overhanging vegetation.

“Once he regurgitated an oblong black pellet. It was a pity I could not collect it because it dropped straight into the pond. One marking I did observe was that his underfoot was very yellowish, like the colour of the bill.

“I observed him jumping up to the lowest branch of the tree before starting to run-climb up higher onto another branch. He spent most of his time preening, stretching his legs and wings before going to sleep. I did not see him walking or flying up to the branch to rest.”

Connie Khoo
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 23rd December 2012

Habitat: Ex-mining pool near forest edge, with limestone hills nearby, Ipoh.

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

4 Responses

    1. The answer to your question regarding the sighting in Singapore can be found in the first two related posts.

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