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Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker eating Melastoma malabathricum fruits

on 15th June 2016

“The Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum) grows literally everywhere as the seeds are dispersed by many species of birds that are attracted to the fruits.

“I was trying to video the Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum) eating the fruits of this plant earlier this year but ended up with the Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) instead. This time I was targeting the dawn chorus in the early morning haze and as a bonus managed to catch this flowerpecker feasting on the numerous ripened fruits of the Singapore Rhodendron.

“These succulent fruits are dark scarlet in colour spotted with tiny light coloured seeds. When they ripened, the skin splits horizontally, opening like a cap.”

YC Wee
Singapore
October 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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