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Oriental Pied Hornbills along Sian Tuan Avenue, Singapore

on 17th November 2015

For sometime now a pair of Oriental Pied Hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris), sometimes accompanied by a juvenile, regularly visit Sian Tuan Avenue (above: male, below: female). Their cries can be heard during the mornings and evenings as they move from tree to tree. Sometimes they even land on the top of houses.

On the evening of 30th September 2015, I was fortunate to be around to document their antics. It was around 1800 hours on a slightly hazy day. I was out trying to video the Asian Glossy Starlings (Aplonis panayensis) as a small flock flew around my pair of Ceram Palms (Rhopaloblaste ceramica). Sometimes the flock of starlings flew past the palms, other times some may land on the palms. And their dispersal from the palms can be just as spectacular.

The cries of the hornbills alerted me of the presence of a pair (above). They were perching on a lamppost for some time before flying to one of the many Golden Penda (Xanthostemon chrysanthus) trees that line the road. Their black and white plumage provided excellent camouflage against the background of leafy branches in the evening light.

The pair then moved to a nearby Noni (Morinda citrifolia) tree. They next flew down to land on the ground of my garden before moving to the iron railings of the balcony of my neighbour’s house.

There they indulged in courtship feeding. The male regurgitated some fruits stored in his crop and fed the female twice. The courtship feeding completed, the female flew off, soon followed by the male, to explore the areas further down the road.

YC Wee
Singapore
November 2015

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

2 Responses

  1. Wonderful hornbills and video. I always loved the bird and other background noises from your earlier videos. I find the ‘grand’ music distracting from the wonder of the birds themselves. Hope these comments do not offend you as I do so appreciate your postings.

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