Common Iora feeding on grub

YC Wee
on 11th March 2018

“On 26th February 2018, I observed a male Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia) feeding in a tree at Tampines Eco Green. The branches had several rufous-coloured, triangular protrusions on them. The bird plucked one of the protrusions, grasped it with its left claw, turned it upside down to extract a grub with its beak (below).

IoraC-grub [ThongChowNgian]

“The photo below shows the bird successfully extracting the grub with its beak. In this picture, it also shows clearly the base of the protrusion which is shaped like a flower with 4 petals.

IoraC-grub [ThongChowNgian]

“The photo below is a cropped photo of the above, showing a larger image of the grub. The bird was able to extract 2 grubs from that single triangular protrusion.

IoraC-grub [ThongChowNgian]

Thong Chow Ngian
Singapore
3rd March 2018

Note: Anyone able to identify the grub, please inform via “comment.” Thanks.

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.

Other posts by YC Wee

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

18th August 2023

Singapore’s secret “garden”

20th July 2023

Singapore-Nature: 15. Looking versus studying birds

12th July 2023

Singapore Nature: 14. Accolades

6th July 2023

One Response

  1. I suspect the grubs might be some kind of moth caterpillar – it’s got proper legs which rules out maggots, while I’m not aware of beetle larvae making these ‘tents’ – its usually the moths…

    Reply

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