Spiderhunter, Sunbird, Flowerpecker – Food Source

posted in: birds, Feeding-plants | 0

There is a very tall flowering tree at this site that attracts Spiderhunters, Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers to its nectar. It is difficult to observe all the birds visiting as the tree is very tall and has fairly dense foliage. It is a Syzygium species, most likely the Syzygium grande (Sea Apple). Birds I am certain that feed on its nectar include the:

  1. Grey-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera modesta modesta
  2. Spectacled Spiderhunter Arachnothera flavigaster
  3. Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis malacensis
  4. Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma

The Long-billed Spiderhunter Arachnothera robusta robusta and other bird also visit the tree often, but I have failed to see their feeding behaviour there.

Post 1.

Post 2.

Post 1 shows a female Brown-throated Sunbird at the flowers.

Post 2 an image of flowers and leaves to aid plant ID.

 

Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr) – Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Habitat: Secondary growth adjacent to limestone outcroppings

Date: 7th December 2020

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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