New food source for the Gold-whiskered Barbet (Megalaima chrysopogon laeta). A tree I see occasionally in ‘broken’ (partly logged) forest that reaches about 6-7 meter in height and is sprawled out. It has small yellow flowers with small green fruit that turn purple or brown when ripe. Many other bulbuls were also feeding on the tree (Red-eyed, Stripe-throated, etc).
A new food source for the Gold-whiskered Barbet (Megalaima chrysopogon laeta) is Microcos tomentosa, commonly known as Cenderai, family Malvaceae. The ripe fruits are also edible to humans.
I occasionally enconuter this tree in ‘broken’ (partly logged) forest that reaches about 6-7 meters in height and is sprawled out. It has small yellow flowers with small green fruit that turn purple or brown when ripe. Many bulbuls were also feeding on the tree (Red-eyed, Stripe-throated, etc.).
Postscript:
The tree has been identified as Microcos tomentosa, commonly known as Cenderai, family Malvaceae (see below). The ripe fruits are also edible to humans.
Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr)
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Location: Ulu Kinta Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Previously logged forest with secondary growth and some residual primary forest
Date: 28th February 2019
Equipment: Nikon D500 SLR with Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD, handheld with Rode VideoMic Pro Plus Shotgun Microphone
