1 Nov 2021

Yellow-crowned Barbet feeding on figs

by | posted in: birds, Feeding-plants, Morphology-Develop. | 0

Spent the morning watching a number of different barbet and bulbul species and other birds feasting at a fruiting Ficus benjamina in the forest; fruit diameter is 2.0-2.5cm. This is a favourite fruit of many, many birds and when fruiting there are often 15-25 species that visit it daily.

I was delighted to see two Yellow-crowned Barbets (Megalaima henricii henricii) at the tree as they are generally less common to meet in this forest. Note the blue throat with 2 red spots at the throat (above) and the red hind-collar (below).

The golden-yellow crown has a hind blue patch (below).

The ventral surface of the tail looks bright and ‘bluish’ in some views (image below not good enough to show this feature). The Ficus benjamina fruit was either swallowed whole or crushed before swallowing (below).

Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr)

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

 

Location: Kledang-Saiong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Habitat: Trail in primary forest

Date: 18th 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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