Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS has added another bird species to the many that flock to a figging Ficus benjamina tree.
This is the Blue-eared Barbet (Megalaima australis duvaucelii-stuarti). Adults and juveniles (in different stages of plumage development) were seen feeding together with other birds in a tree growing along a trail through the mixed secondary and primary jungle of the Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. This was on 6th December 2013.
The two images posted here show juveniles, one swallowing a fig whole (after crushing it).
Bird Ecology Study Group Trees for Birds: 1. Ficus benjamina (Waringin, Weeping Fig)
[…] Ficus benjamina tree LINK. Amar-Singh, H. S. S., 2014b. Blue-eared Barbet and Ficus benjamina figs. LINK. Bucknill, J.A.S. & F.N. Chasen (1990). Birds of Singapore and South-east Asia. Graham Brash, […]