Asian Fairy-bluebird – food sources

YC Wee
on 9th August 2018
Asian Fairy-bluebird, male feeding on figs.

“The Asian Fairy-bluebird (Irena puella malayensis) adults feed predominantly on fruit with occasional insect prey. They are found at most mix-flock feeding at fruiting Ficus sp. (above).

Some additional fruit I have seen them feed on include:

Asian Fairy-bluebird, male feeding on Malayan Teak.

13th October 2017 (above, below)
Male and female seen feeding on fruit of the Malayan Teak, Vitex pinnata (local name ‘Leban’). Fruits are 5–8 mm in diameter, black when ripe and a popular fruiting of many bulbul species and some spiderhunters.

Asian Fairy-bluebird, male feeding on Malayan Teak.

30th April 2017 (below)
Smaller berries that are a favourite of most bulbuls, flowerpeckers, etc.

Asian Fairy-bluebird, male feeding on unknown berries.

28th April 2017 (below)

Pair of Asian Fairy-bluebird feeding on fruit of an unknown tree.

28th April 2017

Female Asian Fairy-bluebird.

13th October 2017

Male Asian Fairy-bluebird at fruiting ficus.

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2017

Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Trail along primary jungle

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.

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