I have been watching a number of migratory and local flycatchers feed on fruit items at a forest site on the outskirts of Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia in November and December 2023. This group includes a possible ‘family unit’ of five Mugimaki Flycatchers Ficedula mugimaki. Fruit feeding by the Mugimaki Flycatcher is a recognised behaviour (Wells 2007).
The favourite of many of these flycatchers is the Trema orientale (also called Trema orientalis). Trema orientale is a fast-growing tree with a heavy branching that can reach 18 m in height. The fruit is small at 4-6 mm and black when ripe. The flycatchers would obtain the fruit by an aerial sally with a ‘snatch-and-grab’ technique. More often they would alight on the tree to harvest the fruit. See Plate 1 of feeding behaviour.
The flycatchers that I have seen feed on Trema orientale (Trema orientalis) fruit this season include:
- Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki
- Green-backed Flycatcher Ficedula elisae
- Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia
- Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
- Blue-and-white or Zappey’s Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana/cumatilis (females cannot be differentiated)
- Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus
- Indochinese Blue Flycatcher Cyornis sumatrensis
Many other bird species also feed on this fruit.
On 18th December 2023 I saw another fruit item for the Mugimaki Flycatcher, the Commersonia bartramia (Brown Kurrajong, Scrub Christmas Tree). This small tree, usually 6-15 meters in height, has copious flowers and fruit/seeds. The fruit is a hairy, dark capsule 15–25 mm long and contains yellow or orange seeds (possibly arils) that are 1.5-2 in size. See Plate 2 of feeding behaviour.
In the past I have seen the Mugimaki Flycatcher feed on the fruit of the:
- Macaranga bancana (Common Mahang)
- Macaranga gigantea (Giant Mahang)
- Acacia mangium (arils and seeds)
I have also seen them picking items off the bamboo – either the seeds or insects (see reference).
References
- Wells, D.R. (2007). The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 2 (Passerines). London: Christopher Helm.
- Amar-Singh HSS (2015). Mugimaki Flycatcher – feeding in seeding bamboo. Bird Ecology Study Group. https://besgroup.org/2015/12/02/mugimaki-flycatcher-feeding-in-seeding-bamboo/
Amar
(Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS)
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2 responses
Interesting observations here Amar. Always thought they were feeding on minute fruit flies not the fruit. Have observed these species feeding as well.
Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki
Green-backed Flycatcher Ficedula elisae
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopy
Incidentally noticed bulbuls, especially Spectacled being aggressive whilst the flycatchers fed!
Dear Bryon
Thank you for the kind comment & adding to the observation.
I have observed many species of local & migratory Flycatchers feeding on fruit.
The activity is hard to document as they often obtain the fruit by an aerial sally, with a ‘snatch-and-grab’ technique, land at a different perch & consume the small fruit quickly. Hence need a burst of images or a good video to capture the fruit feeding activity. I often take 50-70 images to get one sharp fruit in the mouth image.
Agree that there is competitive feeding at these trees. I have seen both intraspecific & interspecific competition. And as you have observed, the bigger birds tend to ‘bully’ the smaller flycatchers.
regards
Amar