“Both the Common Mahang (Macaranga bancana) LINK and the Giant Mahang (Macaranga gigantea) are trees whose fruit attract large numbers of species. The Giant Mahang is not an easy tree to watch birds in (see image). It is a tall tree at 15-20 meters with a spreading crown that provides good shade.
“Birds that I have personally observed feeding on the Giant Mahang fruit include (some I have not yet posted):”
Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)
Crimson-winged Woodpecker (Picus puniceus observandus)
Banded Woodpecker (Picus miniaceus malaccense)
Brown Barbet (Calorhamphus fuliginosus hayii)
Red-throated Barbet (Megalaima mystacophanos mystacophanos)
Gold-whiskered Barbet (Megalaima chrysopogon laeta)
Buff-vented Bulbul (Iole olivacea)
Cream-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus simplex simplex)
Olive-winged Bulbuls (Pycnonotus plumosus plumosus)
Red-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus brunneus)
Spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus erythropthalmus)
Yellow-vented Bulbuls (Pycnonotus goiavier gourdini)
Asian Fairy Bluebird (Irena puella malayensis)
Greater Green Leafbird (Chloropsis sonnerati zosterops)
Blue-winged Leafbird (Chloropsis cochinchinensis moluccensis)
Green Iora (Aegithina viridissima)
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus divaricatus)
Orange-headed Thrush (Zoothera citrina)
Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis strigata)
Lesser Cuckooshrike (Lalage fimbriata)
Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki)
Everett’s White-eye (Zosterops everetti)
Grey-breasted Spiderhunter (Arachnothera modesta)
Spectacled Spiderhunter (Arachnothera flavigaster)
Spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus erythropthalmus)
Scaly-Breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus squamatus)
Purple-naped Sunbird (Hypogramma hypogrammicum)
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Anthreptes singalensis interposita)
Plain Sunbird (Anthreptes simplex)
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma) (see below)
Other unidentified Sunbirds & Flowerpeckers
[Total of 30 plus species]
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
8th August 2015
Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Fringe of the forest reserve
Thong Chow Ngian
Dear Dr Amar, I noticed the Spectacled Bulbul appeared twice on the list. Its amazing to see that so many birds find the fruits of this tree species very beneficial for their diet.
Cheers
Bird Ecology Study Group Brown Barbet feeding on fruits of Macaranga gigantea and Ficus benjamina
[…] Giant Mahang (Macaranga gigantea) is a popular tree with birds. Its fruits have been shown to attract more than 30 species of birds. Included in the list is the Brown Barbet (Calorhamphus fuliginosus hayii). This post provides photographic evidence, not posted earlier, showing the barbet feeding on the Giant Mahang fruits (above). […]