“I was enjoying a small flock of Black-headed Bulbuls (Pycnonotus atriceps) wander through the canopy feeding when they led me to a pair of Green Ioras (Aegithina viridissima viridissima) collecting nesting material. They were approximately 10 meters up stripping fibre from the bark of a dead branch (above, below). Both male and female were equally involved (watched 3 episodes). I also saw them collect cobwebs.
“When they left I managed to follow them in the canopy and find their nest. It was located on the outer branch of a tall tree on a slope of a hill, approximately 12 meters high (below).
“The nest is close to completion and is a small cup, built into 4 small branches, with a small downwards extension, very much like some Fantails (below). Other have described a neat cup (Wells 2007; one image on OBI). In addition to adding material they also would sit in the cup to shape it.
“Disclosure: I observed the nest building activities for less than 45 minutes. To give the birds a break from my presence, I left and returned three times in the 45 minutes. I was situated quite far away at the foot of the hill, separated from them by a ravine, a stream and thick canopy. Nest building was not interrupted during my presence.”
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
13th April 2014
Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Trail through primary forest
