Buffy Fish-owls’ gular fluttering

The nesting of the Buffy Fish-owl (Ketupa ketupu) at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve during March-April 2016 coincided with one of Singapore’s hottest period. The chick fledged in the latter part of April.

Jeremiah Loei’s two videos below shows the adult gular fluttering in an effort to cool itself. Above is a video grab showing the adult with the inflated gular pouch.

Kumchun Chan’s video of the chick seen between the fronds of the Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) that made up the nest similarly reflects the high temperature experienced during the same period. The chick is seen fluttering its gular in a desperate effort to cool itself (below).

According to Podulka (2004), gular fluttering is defined as: “Opening the bill wide and vibrating the thin membranes of the throat, in order to dissipate heat.”

Jeremiah Loei & Kumchun Chan
Singapore
28th April 2016

Reference:
Podulka, S., Rohrbaugh, R.W. Jr & Bonney, R. (2004) (eds.) Handbook of bird biology. Ithaca, NY: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.