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Raffles’s Malkoha – females foraging

on 2nd December 2021

“I came across two different female Raffles’s Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus) about 2 km apart; both foraging for prey in fairly thick jungle. This malkoha is best described as a cross between a squirrel and a Fantail Flycatcher; fast moving, scampering, often fanning the tail while acrobatically foraging.

“Images above and below show the common foraging technique of using the beak to open dead vegetation or examine under leaves for prey (image below shows it hanging by one foot).

“In my experience prey has often been large winged insects or caterpillars. In literature it is documented as predominantly insects including spiders, beetles, phasmids, caterpillars, butterflies, cicadas, crickets, etc.

“Today I saw one bird took a small lizard (above) high up in tree (7-8 meters up) – no time to kill the lizard before swallowing head first. Not able to find such prey documented in literature (including Cuckoos of the World, by Johannes Erritzøe, Clive F. Mann, Frederik P. Brammer and Richard A. Fuller. Helm, 2012).

“Image above shows the rectrices of the female that are dark rufous (here brightened by back lighting) with a with subterminal black bands and white tips (Wells 1999).”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
15th October 2019

Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Trail along primary jungle

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.

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