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Orange-bellied Flowerpecker – food sources

on 8th May 2022

The diet of the Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma trigonostigma) is not well documented in literature. Wells (2007) and Cheke, Mann & Allen (2001) list fruit, seeds, nectar, pollen and insects but the specific food items known are limited. Wells noted that this species has a protrusible tongue supporting nectar feeding.

Post 1.

Over the many decades of watching I have largely observed frugivory with some nectar feeding. On this occasion I saw it feeding on the Vitex pinnata (Malayan Teak) but sadly missed getting images. Post 1 and 2 show it feeding on the favourite fruit of most flowerpeckers, the Melastoma malabathricum (Straits rhododendron). Post 2 shows the protrusible tongue.

Post 2.

I went through my records to summarise feeding sources I have observed.

Fruit Sources (for bigger fruit it is takes the flesh piece meal):

Melastoma malabathricum (Straits rhododendron) (also seen fed to juveniles; a favourite of many flowerpeckers)

Muntingia calabura (Village Cherry) (a favourite of many flowerpeckers; also given to juveniles)

Clidemia hirta (Hairy Clidemia)

Bridelia tomentosa (a favourite of many flowerpeckers)

Macaranga gigantea (Giant Mahang)

Buchanania arborescens (Gooseberry Tree or Sparrow’s Mango)

Ficus consociate

Ficus benjamina

Dypsis lutescens (Golden Cane Palm, Areca Palm, Butterfly Palm; locally known as Pinang Kuning)

Fruiting stalks of Piper aduncum (introduced Tree Pepper)

Vitex pinnata (Malayan Teak)

Macrosolen cochincinensis (Mistletoe fruit)

Seen at Scurrula ferruginea (Rusty-leaf Mistletoe) and possibly taking fruit

 

Nectar sources:

Dendrophthoe pentendra (nectar from a mistletoe)

Poikilospermum suaveolens (eat the flowers to get to the nectar)

Nectar also seen taken from other flowers (trees not identified; possibly Breynia sp.); see: https://besgroup.org/2009/10/27/orange-bellied-flowerpecker-feeding-on-nectar/

 

  1. Wells, D.R. (2007). The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 2 (Passarines). Christopher Helm, London.
  2. Robert A Cheke, Clive F Mann, Richard Allen (2001). Sunbirds: A Guide to the Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Spiderhunters and Sugarbirds of the World. Helm Identification Guides
  3. Cheke, R. and C. Mann (2020). Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

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

Location: Papan Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Habitat: Trail in forest

Date: 27th August 2020

Equipment: Equipment: Nikon D500 SLR with Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR, handheld with Rode VideoMic Pro Plus Shotgun Microphone

 

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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