Search

Asian Glossy Starlings feasting on Alexandra Palm fruits

on 4th April 2016

“Most evenings flocks of adults and juveniles Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis) gather at the pair of Ceram Palms (Rhopaloblaste ceramica) in my garden just before they fly off to their night roost elsewhere. And during this short period, many would gather at the fruiting Alexandra Palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) to feast on the fruits.

“The starlings would move around the different fruiting branches to seek out the ripe fruits before swallowing them whole LINK.

“Many a times they would fail to swallow the 10×12 mm fruits, especially the juveniles whose gape is not as wide as the adults. Such fruits would simply fall to the ground and the starling would seek out another.

“The fruit has a thin layer of pulp and swallowing them means swallowing mostly seeds than pulp. This creates extra bulk and weight in the alimentary system that in turn interferes in the starling’s agility during flight. So what happens is that the fruits are processed in the crop to remove the superficial pulp and the seeds are regurgitated soon after. Such a strategy allows the starlings to take in more fruits at one ‘sitting’ than if they are to allow the large seeds to slowly pass through the system to be finally exected at the other end.

“Earlier postings of starlings and the Alexandra Palm fruits can be accessed HERE and HERE.”

YC Wee
Singapore
January 2016

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

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
871
18893
Visitors Today
51792020
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)