20 Mar 2022

White-bellied Erpornis – spider prey

by | posted in: birds, Feeding-invertebrates | 0

I frequently observe the White-bellied Erpornis (Erpornis zantholeuca) as a small group, often part of a mixed-species foraging party.

Today, 3rd February 2022, at the Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, I saw 4-5 birds foraging with 4 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis) and a number of bulbul species.

Their foraging is ‘acrobatic’, hanging upside down, looking under leaves and exploring closed leaves for invertebrate prey.

One bird I saw today found a spider ‘nest’ and first took the silk egg sac; and then went back to take the spider (possibly a female Wolf spider).

See composite above for feeding activity. The beak was used to open the curled-up leaf. The spider prey was taken to another branch for processing before eating.

 

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

 

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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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