Red-whiskered Bulbul and Harpullia ramiflora fruits

Jackie Ong’s images of the Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) eating fruits of the Harpullia ramniflora were photographed at Singapore’s Satay by the Bay.

The plant, commonly known as Cape York Tulipwood or Claudie Tulipwood, is a reasonably fast growing tree. It belongs to the family of plants known as Sapindaceae that gives us rambutan, longan, mata kuching and lychee.

The flowers and fruits are borne in dense clusters along the branches. The flowers are white and fragrant but not as conspicuous as the fruits. The latter are orange-red, splitting to expose the black seeds encased in golden-yellow arils (=extra seed covering that is coloured and hairy or fleshy, like in the durian). The above image shows the bulbul with a seed covered by a golden-yellow aril.

Jackie Ong
Singapore
8th January 2017

Reference:
Barwick, Margaret (2004). Tropical and subtropical trees. A worldwide encyclopaedic guide. London: Thames & Hudson. 484pp.

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.