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Tailorbirds in our garden

on 19th May 2019
Screen garb from Lakshmi Ravishankar’s video clip.

“The Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) in our garden… yes she actually tailors! We have found many nests over the years after her children have flown away – three clerodendrum leaves stitched together, usually with silk cotton inside them to make a soft bed for her babies! Their nests are made of leaves still attached to the tree/vine, and hidden in thick foliage, to provide camouflage.

“Although shy birds that are usually hidden within vegetation, their loud calls are familiar and give away their presence. The call of the tailorbird we have not yet managed to film any. However, Lakshmi Ravishankar has kindly given permission to make use of her video of a male Common Tailorbird calling – see below.

“Tailorbirds are mainly insect eaters, and that is what they feed their chicks too. Some of the food the parents bring back to the nest to feed chicks are moths, spiders, bees, termites, grasshoppers, caterpillars and worms.

Anjana Mehta (text and video of tailorbird in our garden)
Rajasthan, India
11th May 2019

Lakshmi Ravishankar (video of tailorbird making territorial call)
Pune, India
13th May 2019

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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