Grey-breasted Spiderhunter feeding on Musa ornata nectar

posted in: Feeding-plants | 4

“Been wanting to document this feeding that I have seen a number of times… feeding by the Grey-breasted Spiderhunter (Arachnothera modesta modesta) on the nectar of Wild Banana (Musa ornata) (above).

“The bird will probe every flower rapidly, often not putting the beak fully in but, I suspect, using the long tongue to get to the nectar (above).

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
15th November 2014

Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Fringe of the forest reserve/primary jungle

4 Responses

  1. Leong Tzi Ming

    Neat documentation!
    The powdery bits on its beak look like pollen.
    Would this bird then qualify as an effective pollinator of this banana flower?
    🙂

  2. Leong Tzi Ming

    It’s amazing how the bird’s beak fits perfectly into the flower, just like a sword sliding into its respective sheath.
    🙂

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