Yellow-bellied Prinia – prey and plumage

Saw a number of pairs of Yellow-bellied Prinia (Prinia flaviventris rafflesi) breeding. This male had an unusual prey for the young (above). At first glance it looked like a bee but reviewed all my images and the eyes are too large. Possibly fly that is a ‘bee-mimic’, the Eristalis tenax (Hoverfly or Drone fly).

Note again the breeding plumage changes in males (top and above) – an indistinct, brownish (or buff) upper breast or lower neck band. In some birds this extends lower down and almost confluent with the yellow belly.

Despite breeding the male was in moult in the face and tail – above image focuses on the tail moult.

 

Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr)

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

 

Location: Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Habitat: Urban environment

Date: 7th September 2020

Equipment: Equipment: Nikon D500 SLR with Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR, handheld with Rode VideoMic Pro Plus Shotgun Microphone

 

 

Follow 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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