Olive-backed Sunbird feeding on Yellow Flame flowers

on 14th May 2016

“I was watching a nesting pair of Olive-backed Sunbirds (Cinnyris jugularis) in the city when the female took a break to feed on the nectar of the flowers of the Yellow Flame Tree (Peltophorum pterocarpum).

SunbirdOB-YellowFlame fl [AmarSingh]

“I was taken by surprise as I have yet to personally see any bird use these flowers for nectar. It may be just a lack of observation as usually flowers are rather high up. I should also not be surprised as bees use the flowers indicating nectar presence.

“A simple net search by common/scientific name and also by image search showed documentation of two parrots feeding on the nectar, see: A Blue-crowned Hanging-parrot in Singapore and a Rainbow Lorikeet in Australia.

“My lack of observation over many years makes me suspect these flowers are used when other sources of nectar are limited or, in my instance, where the bird is very busy and does not want to stray far from the nest.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
21st March 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.

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