Leucistic Collared Kingfisher at East Coast Park

YC Wee
on 4th July 2018
Leucistic juvenile – MeiLin Khoo.

The spotting of a leucistic Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) at East Coast Park on 28th June 2018 caused much excitement among bird photographers.

Adult and leucitic juvenile – Yeo Eng Chai.

A leucistic Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) can be spotted on and off. Other leucistic species reported in this website include Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) and House Crow (Corvus splendens), both spotted in Malaysia.

In this particular case, it was not so much the leucistic fledging that caused the excitement. Rather, it was the unusual spectacle of two colourful adult kingfishers feeding the whitish, recently fledged juvenile that generated the excitement – see video above by MeiLin Khoo.

The juvenile was spotted by the road where the adults tried hard to get it to fly off by tempting it with food. When this failed, the adults relented and fed the juvenile

Juvenile with caterpillar – Siew Mun.

Before long the juvenile ended under shelter of vegetation and the adults were feeding it with a continuous supply of food – as shown in the video below by Jeremiah Loei.

Adult with praying mantis – Dave Koh.

According to Jack Lai, food brought by the adults included caterpillar, dragonfly, grasshopper and cricket.

Adult with grasshopper – Terence Tan.

MeiLin Khoo, Jeremiah Loei, Siew Mun, Yeo Eng Chai, Terence Tan, Dave Koh & Jack Lai
Singapore
28th June 2018

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behaviour through photography and videography to a wider audience.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the authors/contributors, and do not represent nor are they endorsed by the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore (LKCNHM, NUS) or any of NUS’s affiliates or subsidiaries. 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

Hornbill feeding on Bush Grape (Cayratia mollissima) fruit

27th April 2025

Singapore Bird Society’s updated Bird Database is now available

22nd April 2025

From looking at birds to studying birds: The story of the Bird Ecology Study Group:Part 6. Bird Group played the religion card.

2nd March 2025

From looking at birds to studying birds: The story of the Bird Ecology Study Group.  Part 5. Looking and Studying Birds 

24th February 2025

From looking at birds to studying birds: The story of the Bird Ecology Study Group or BESG Part 4: Formation of BESG

14th February 2025

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