“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
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