Two more species of birds attracted to Macaranga bancana fruits

In the latest list of plants posted recently LINK, the Common Mahang (Macaranga bancana) is shown to attracts 31 species of birds. All but two were documented by Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS, from his base in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia – see list below.

It is interesting to note that few, if at all any local birdwatcher, pay attention to this fabulous bird-tree. One reason can be that, as far as I can ascertain, most Common Mahang are found within old secondary forests. And the locals generally avoid forests, maybe only around the periphery and at most walk along well-trodden paths.

During the current fruiting season in Malaysia, Amar has added two new species of birds that is not in our list. These include the Scaly-Breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus squamatus webberi) (above, on a different tree; below, with fruit in its bill)…

…and Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica) (below).

Amar has this to say of the tree: “I do not know what it is about the fruit of this tree. So many birds fight over it and desire it. Some species of birds I have yet to document can be found sitting patiently in nearby trees; I suspect waiting for me to go before they feed.”

Birds already documented feeding on the fruits of Common Mahang:

Barbets
Brown Barbet – fruit (Amar-Singh 2010q)
Gold-whiskered Barbet – fruit (Amar-Singh 2013o)
Bulbuls
Black-headed Bulbul – fruit (Amar-Singh 2009k, 2012b, 2013p)
Buff-vented Bulbul – fruit (Amar-Singh 2010n, 2013q)
Cream-vented Bulbul – fruit (Amar-Singh 2009k, 2013o, q)
Hairy-backed Bulbul – fruit (Amar-Singh 2009k, 2013o, 2013q)
Red-eyed Bulbul – fruit (Amar-Singh 2009k, 2013o, q)
Spectacled Bulbul – fruit (Amar-Singh 2009k, 2010n, 2013o, q)
Yellow-vented Bulbul – fruit (Amar-Singh H.S.S. pers.comm.)
Flowerpeckers
Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker – fruit (Amar-Singh 2013o)
Flycatchers
Asian Brown Flycatcher – fruit (Amar-Singh 2009j, 2013p)
Blue-and-white Flycatcher – fruit (Amar-Singh 2012a)
Mugimaki Flycatcher – fruit (Amar-Singh (013o)
Narcissus Flycatcher – fruit (Amar-Singh 2013o)
Rufous-chested Flycatchers – fruit (Amar-Singh 2012a)
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher – ?insect/fruit (Amar-Singh 2009j)
Hanging-parrots
Blue-crowned Hanging-parrot – fruit (Amar-Singh 2011x)
Ioras
Green Iora – fruit (Amar-Singh 2009j, 2013q)
Leafbirds
Blue-winged Leafbird – fruit (Amar-Singh 2013o, q)
Lesser Leafbird – fruit (Amar-Singh 2013p)
Parakeets
Long-tailed Parakeet – fruit (Bucknill & Chasen 1990)
Spiderhunters
Grey-breasted Spiderhunter – fruit (Amar-Singh 2009l, 2010q, 2013o, q)
Little Spiderhunter – fruit (Amar-Singh 2009d, 2013q)
Spectacled Spiderhunter – fruit (Amar-Singh 2010q, 2013q)
Yellow-eared Spiderhunter – fruit (Amar-Singh 2010q, 2013q)
Sunbirds
Plain Sunbird – nectar/fruit (Amar-Singh 2009i, 2010q, 2013o; nectar 2013e, q)
Purple-naped Sunbird – nectar/fruit (Amar-Singh 2009i, 2010q, 2011y, 2013o, q)
Red-throated Sunbird – nectar/fruit (Amar-Singh 2009i, 2011y, 2013o, q)
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird – nectar/fruit (Amar-Singh, 2009i, 2011y, 2013p, q)
Starlings
Asian Glossy Starling – fruit (Amar-Singh 2010b)
White-eyes
Everett’s White-eye – fruit (Amar-Singh 2010q, 2013o, q)