13 Apr 2022

African Tulip Tree and Spiderhunters

by | posted in: birds, Miscellaneous | 0

Post 1

I returned to the flowering Spathodea campanulata (African Tulip Tree) where I again saw 4 species of Spiderhunters feeding on nectar, high up:

  1. Long-billed Spiderhunter Arachnothera robusta robusta
  2. Grey-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera modesta modesta
  3. Spectacled Spiderhunter Arachnothera flavigaster
  4. Yellow-eared Spiderhunter Arachnothera chrysogenys chrysogenys

Post 2

The Spectacled Spiderhunter was the most aggressive species and often chased away the others from flowers or trees.

Post 3

All the Spiderhunters feed on this exotic tree nectar by dipping their heads into the large flowers (Post 1). However I noticed today that the Spectacled Spiderhunter also uses nectar robbing techniques and pierces the flower base to access nectar (Post 2). This may have to do with perch access or just convenience.

Post 4

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

Location: 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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