Ashy or Swinhoe’s Minivet – calls

YC Wee
on 8th April 2016

“I occasionally come across migratory minivets in the city; almost always in a flock. Today I saw a lone bird high up in a tree that was calling fairly continually. I suspect the calls were to locate the rest of the flock (or part of a dawn chorus) but there was no response.

Minivet call-Ashy or Swinhoe [AmarSingh]

“The bird was hard to see and my best image is as shown above. The calls of the Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus divaricatus) and the Swinhoe’s Minivet (Pericrocotus cantonensis) are not well differentiated. In some literature they are considered similar.

“Although Ashy Minivets are far more common migrants, I have kept an open mind here.

“A recording of the calls (longer recording on request) HERE: .

Minivet call-Ashy or Swinhoe sonogram [AmarSingh]

“The sonogram/waveform is given above. The recording is heavily edited to remove many other bird calls, as it was 7.50am and the dawn chorus was in full bloom. Value any opinions.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
23rd December 2015

Location: Ipoh City, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Semi-urban environment in the city

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

From looking at birds to studying birds: The story of the Bird Ecology Study Group Part 2: Photographing Birds

5th January 2025

From looking at birds to studying birds: The story of the Bird Ecology Study Group. Part 1: Looking at Birds.

12th December 2024

Good Stories Movement

14th September 2024

From watching birdwatchers to watching birds

20th July 2024

Bird Society of Singapore: A credible alternative to the Nature Society’s Bird Group

11th December 2023

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Recent Comments
Categories
Archives
Links

Overall visits (since 2005)

Clustrmaps (since 2016)

Site Announcements

Welcome to our new home: besgroup.org

Thanks to your continued support in making the website one of the top bird behaviour blogs around, we now have a dedicated domain.

Any views and opinions expressed in the articles 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.

© 2025 Bird Ecology Study Group
Facebook