“The Common Macaranga (Macaranga bancana) fruits twice a year and attracts a large number of bird species. I have seen more than 25 species visit this tree. I had an opportunity to watch a large number of birds feeding today including a number of sunbirds. All three images are of an adult male Purple-naped Sunbird (Hypogramma hypogrammicum nuchale) feeding at the tree. Birds will actively and competitively search for fruit from early in the morning (before 7am) until that days’ supply is exhausted by frantic feeding (usually by 9am). Macaranga bancana is the opiate of the birds.
“The sunbirds and spiderhunters that I have observed feeding on the Macaranga bancana fruit include:
1. Purple-naped Sunbird Hypogramma hypogrammicum
2. Plain Sunbird Anthreptes simplex
3. Red-throated Sunbird Anthreptes rhodolaemus
4. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis
5. Brown-throated (Plain-throated) Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis
6. Grey-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera modesta
7. Yellow-eared Spiderhunter Arachnothera chrysogenys
8. Spectacled Spiderhunter Arachnothera flavigaster
9. Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
12th December 2019
Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Broken trail in primary jungle
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