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Common Flameback confrontations

on 2nd July 2014

“I was tracking a pair of Common Flamebacks (Dinopium javanense) this morning (26th June 2014) and was fortunate enough to observe three episodes of their behaviour; one of which was interspecies and the other two within the species. (Image above shows the pair, photographed some time ago in the same locality.)

Interspecies Aggression:

“The female was foraging when she encountered a plantain squirrel (Callosciurus notatus). A standoff ensued. It was unclear if she was defending something or just decided not to fly away. The flameback was calling loudly with its wings spread open while the squirrel released a series of short barks. After a short while, the squirrel retreated. (Images above and below are extracted from a series of burst shots to show that this was a close encounter.)

The image below is a better picture showing the flame back’s posture.

Intraspecies (non)-aggression:
“The pair then moved on to a taller tree, where they encountered a female flameback (below). The anticipated showdown did not occur and they moved on shortly after.

“The third location again yielded some observations.

“As they approached a grove of coconut trees, the male flameback immediately flew into a window (above) while the female continued to hunt for food among the coconuts (below). This was unlikely to be an accidental window-crashing (as I first thought) as the male repeated this a few more times, and was at times resting on the window sill for a few moments before resuming his attack. No calls were made. The attack only ended when the female flew off and the male decided to follow.

Jasper Lim
Singapore
26th June 2014

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

6 Responses

  1. Jasper,

    The confronting behaviour of flashing its wings wide at the Plantain squirrel was to make herself appear bigger- a natural defence mechanism to ward off enemies. Size does count to intimidate if one decides to take up a challenge. Many bird species do it.

    The second encounter with another female could be a member of its own family. The rear pose- not able to discern if it was the pair’s juvenile brood foraging below.

    The third encounter by the male is called ‘mirror fighting’ or boxing where the bird encounters its own reflection and thought could be his adversary to defend/ his mate and ‘box’ with the mirror. He lost interest when the female flew away as you said the boxer followed.

    You have an interesting last photo shot of the female with an old hanging coconut. There is a cavity – has this bird been using it as nesting cavity?. The pic. also shows an insect or sort in the bill tip of the female which appears like this parent has some duties to perform.

    I have never encountered Flamebacks choose old hanging coconut as nesting site material. This could be a new record if it does.

    Nice observation.

    Cheers!

    Daisy O’Neill

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