Jeremiah Loei‘s video of the Brown-chested Jungle-flycatcher (Rhinomyias brunneata) swallowing an earthworm was documented in Bidadari.
It shows the jungle-flycatcher expertly handling the wriggling earthworm after pulling it from the ground. With the earthworm’s anterior end tightly clamped between its mandibles, it had no problem subduing it before totally swallowing it in less than a minute. It showed a little discomfort after the earthworm was swallowed but I suppose the gizzard will deal with the earthworm. The jungle-flycatcher made its obligatory bill swiping a few times before flying off.
As Brown-chested Jungle-flycatcher can easily be confused with Asian Brown Flycatcher (R. dauurica), Fluvious-chested Flycatcher (R. olivacea) and Grey-chested Flycatcher (R. umbratilis), wildlife consultant Subaraj Rajathurai was consulted. Subaraj’s reply: “Based on the heavy bicolored bill, large eye, complete pale eye-ring, prominent bristles at base of bill, proportionally large head, white throat, brown breast band and pale coloured legs… this is almost certainly a Brown-chested Jungle-Flycatcher Rhinomyias brunneata.”
Jeremiah Loei & Subaraj Rajathurai
Singapore
28th January 2018
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.
Howard Banwell
Amazing to think of that large, live wriggler moving around in the flycatcher’s small stomach!