Search

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker applying plant sap to feathers

on 9th July 2014

“On a recent birding trip to West Bali National Park, Indonesia, I came across yet another woodpecker which seems to be applying tree sap to its feathers.

“This female Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei) was interestingly tapping for sap from a dead tree.

“The Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense) was earlier sighted making use of the sap of the Tamalan Tree (Dalbergia oliveri) for the same purpose, see HERE.”

Lena Chow
Singapore
19th 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

4 Responses

  1. I do not wish to offend sensitive people. My apologies if I have done so. I would like to ask this question: Is it possible for a very dead tree (as shown in the picture) to still produce sap?

  2. The pictured tree looks long dead, parts broken off, bark long gone, crown gone & round holes probably made by Carpenter bees (Xylocopia spp.). I can understand that a recently died tree will continue to produce sap but this one?

    1. Some dead trees preserve their sap in the form of damar, etc. This may be one of those trees and the woodpecker may be pecking at the crystallised sap to line its feathers. I suppose the word “sap” here is used liberally and does not confine to what we normally term as the free flowing exudate.

Leave a Reply to YC Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
788
21487
Visitors Today
51794615
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)