31 Aug 2022

Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) stealing nectar from Hibiscus flowers by piercing the flower base.

by | posted in: bird, Brown-throated sunbird, Feeding strategy | 0

A female Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) spotted at Pasir Ris Park on 9 July 2022. Soh Kam Yung saw it stealing nectar (primary nectar robbing) from Hibiscus flowers by piercing the flower base. Nectar robbing does not aid in flower pollination. Secondary nectar robbing occurs when nectar is stolen from the base of flower that had been pierced by another nectar seeker earlier.

Photo 1: A female Brown-throated sunbird sitting on a Hibiscus sinensis twig.
Photo 2: The sunbird flitted from twig to twig.
Photo 3: The sunbird pierced the base of the hibiscus flower.
Photo 4: The sunbird reaching into the inside of the flower where nectar is produced.

 

Read these posts which also document other birds nectar robbing:

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