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Stork-billed Kingfisher caught a puffer fish

YC Wee
on 10th July 2013

Lim Sheau Torng sent in the above image of a Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) with a puffer fish clamped in its bill with a note: “Initially I thought it caught some sort of shellfish, as it was bashing it incessantly on the branch without much effect. After closer look at the photos, I realize it was some sort of puffer fish. If it is a puffer fish, I am quite sure it cannot deal with it like a sushi master. So how does the bird deal with the toxicity?”

An earlier post shows a Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) swallowing a similar Green-spotted Puffer (Tetraodon nigroviridis). Please access this LINK to read the account about puffer fish and their poison.

Lim Sheau Torng
Singapore
June 2013

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

Bird Society of Singapore: A credible alternative to the Nature Society’s Bird Group

11th December 2023

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

18th August 2023

Singapore’s secret “garden”

20th July 2023

Singapore-Nature: 15. Looking versus studying birds

12th July 2023

One Response

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    Reply

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