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White-breasted Woodswallow – feeding

on 27th November 2021

White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus amydrus) are ubiquitous in the East Malaysian cities of Borneo. In West Malaysia they were in the past confined to the coastal regions of Perak and Selangor; assumed to be birds that made a sea crossing from Sumatra (Wells 2007).

In recent years many of us have been seeing them further inland and even in Ipoh City (eBird and personal communication with colleagues). I saw a pair today at the city fringe hawking for insects from high tension electrical wires, which is a common observed behaviour.

The insects taken today were small, dislodged by nearby cattle feeding and appeared to be hymenopterans. More than 20 feeding episodes were observed in 30 minutes. These superb fliers seldom return to the same perch once a prey is obtained.

 

Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr)

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

 

Location: Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Habitat: City fringe with secondary growth

Date: 19th November 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

 

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.

Other posts by YC Wee

2 Responses

  1. Dear BESG/Dr Amar

    I can confirm sightings of this woodswallow further south at Rawang, Selangor. Unfortunately my pictures are not of the highest quality, but clear diagnostic markings can be seen.

    Thank you.

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