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Oriental Magpie-robin vs. Asian Water Monitor

on 15th June 2019

“I observed an adult male Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis musicus) aggressively attacking an Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator) in three consecutive episodes. The Asian Water Monitor was swimming in the water at the edge of a limestone escarpment when this happened. The male Oriental Magpie-robin flew out from a branch and ‘buzzed’ the Asian Water Monitor, so much so that the lizard had to submerge (below). It was impressive for a relatively small bird to address a 1.5-2 meter lizard and for the lizard to appear threatened.

“I subsequently noticed that the Oriental Magpie-robin had prey in the beak (below) and realised that the Asian Water Monitor had unwittingly strayed near the magpie-robin nesting site. I watched from quite a distance and identified that the nesting site was 6-7 meters up the face of the limestone, hidden under some massive stalactites (using a hole in the limestone) and not easily seen.

“The Oriental Magpie-robins are highly intelligent birds and they may realise that Asian Water Monitors are expert climbers (I have seen them in barbet nesting holes high up trees). My stay was brief and I saw that prey collected for young was predominately green caterpillars that were branch swiped (below). Both the male and female fed young but only the male defended the nest.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
20th April 2019

Location: Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Limestone hill at fringe of city

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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