Search

Frugivory by Woodpeckers: Crimson-winged and Banded

on 11th October 2015

“I spotted two species of woodpeckers feeding on the fruit of the Giant Mahang (Macaranga gigantea). One was the Crimson-winged Woodpecker (Picus puniceus observandus). I saw an adult female feeding on many fruits high in the canopy (above).

“The second species of woodpecker feeding on the fruit of the Giant Mahang is the Banded Woodpecker (Picus miniaceus malaccense) (above). A pair of adults was feeding on fruits high in the canopy.

“There are no reports I can obtain of frugivory by the Crimson-winged and Banded Woodpeckers. Some woodpeckers are reported to take fruit. But in all my observations of these two species this is the first time I have seen such behaviour. (NB: Was not able to capture an image of the Banded Woodpecker fruit in the beak but the feeding was observed; male shown here).

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
8th August 2015

Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve
Habitat: Fringe of the forest reserve

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

One Response

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
756
4364
Visitors Today
51743368
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)