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Red-whiskered Bulbul: Adults feeding juveniles

YC Wee
on 13th August 2018
Juvenile Red-whiskered Bulbul.

A pair of Red-whiskered Bulbuls (Pycnonotus jocosus) was nesting in my front neighbour’s garden. The nesting resulted in two chicks. And every evening at around 6.30-7.00 pm, the adult/s visit my garden with the two newly fledged chicks in tow.

Adult Red-whiskered Bulbul feeding juvenile.

Here, the adults forage for food to feed the hungry juveniles (video below).

The video above shows an adult picking on the young leaves of Cekur Manis (Sauropus androgynus), also known as Star Gooseberry, Sayur Manis and Sweet Leaf Bush. This is a traditional medicinal plant, used to treat fever, urinary problems and to relieve congestion. The leaves, prepared as a vegetable, are given to women after childbirth to stimulate milk production and recovery of the womb. The young leaves, flowers and fruits are also eaten raw or cooked.

Cekur Manis (Sauropus andrygynus).

Note that the adult has a tall black crest, white ear coverts and underparts, red ear-patch and undertail-coverts. The juveniles have a little shorter black crest, no red ear patch and undertail coverts are orangy.

Adult and juvenile Red-whiskered Bulbul.

YC Wee
Singapore
7th May 2018

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

Bird Society of Singapore: A credible alternative to the Nature Society’s Bird Group

11th December 2023

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

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Any views and opinions expressed in the articles 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.

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