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Baya Weaver – more nectar feeding

on 21st April 2015

“I returned to this site today to do some follow up bird work. I again observed Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus infortunatus), possibly the same flock, feeding on nectar. I initially spotted them feeding on the nectar of the Water Jambu (Syzygium samarangense) and later again on the Callistemon sp. (Bottlebrush) trees.

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
12th April 2015

Location: Tambun Interior, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Secondary growth near limestone hills, vegetable and fish farms

Note 1 by Amar:
“A net search revealed some support for my observations:

1. The Weaver Watch (Monitoring the Weavers of the World) site states about food that “The Baya Weaver feeds on seeds, including those of grass, rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, millet and sunflowers. Insects include grasshoppers, flies, termites, beetles, caterpillars and butterflies. It also feeds on nectar, spiders, small snails, and rice frogs. Rice is often the most important food itemLINK.

2. One site maintained by the Indian Institute of Technology lists nectar as a food source LINK.

3. Some other weavers (e.g. Southern masked weaver) are also are noted to take nectar LINK.

Note 2 by Dieter Oschadleus
Nectar feeding is undertaken by many birds opportunistically. The literature lists 43 weaver species that have fed on nectar – for some of these species there are only single records, but for others there are many records. A list of these weavers may be seen at this LINK. Of course there are also many other species (bulbuls etc) that also opportunistically feed on nectar. Often the opportunistic feeders are nectar robbers but sometimes they also help pollinate the plants in the way sunbirds and hummingbirds do.”

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.

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