Plain Sunbird – feeding behaviour

“I have been watching the Plain Sunbird (Anthreptes simplex) feeding over two days; single bird and a pair. In the past: ‘No confirmation of this behaviour (nectar feeding) seems to exist for the review area (Wells, 2007). In addition data on specify food items were limited. I was able to spot 5 food items over the two days.

“Previously I have observed the bird feeding on:
1. Fruit of the Blue Mahang (Macaranga heynei, formerly known as M. javanica),
2. Fruit of the Common Mahang (Macaranga bancana),
3. Animal prey – caterpillars, spiders, gleaning leaves & foliage for insects/cocoons,
4. Nectar of the Rusty-leaf Mistletoe (Scurrula ferruginea) mistletoe
5. Nectar of flowers of Bullet Wood (Maulsari) tree (Mimusops elengi),
6. Nectar of unidentified plant,
7. Arils and seeds of the Acacia magnum.

“On 12 and 14th February 2016 I observed birds feeding on these plants:
1. Fruit of the Blue Mahang (Macaranga heynei) (formerly known as M. javanica) (top), (top image),
2. Arils of the seeds of the Simpoh Ayer (Dillenia suffruticosa),
3. Nectar of the Rusty-leaf Mistletoe (Scurrula ferruginea) mistletoe,
4. Nectar of the Common Malayan Mistletoe (Dendrophthoe pentandra) (all images except top),
5. Fruit of a large leaf Mistletoe (possibly Viscum ovalifolium)

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
14th February 2016

Location: Tambun Interior, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Overgrown secondary jungle bordering primary forest along old logging trail