I was with colleagues today when we spotted a number of birds feeding on the nectar of a tall tree with many flowers along a trail in primary forest. The birds we identified were the Grey-breasted Spiderhunters Arachnothera modesta and Brown-throated Sunbirds Anthreptes malacensis. I was later able to identify the tree as Adinobotrys atropurpureus (synonym Callerya atropurpurea), locally called Jenerek or Tulang Daing or Purple Millettia. It is found throughout Southeast Asia, 5-30 metres tall with dense, purple flowers. Occasionally planted as a roadside tree. This is a new nectar source for both species.
The composite image 2 shows how the Grey-breasted Spiderhunter will insert its beak into the flowering bud to prise it open before inserting the beak and tubular tongue to suck up the nectar.
The branches, roots and seeds of the tree contain Rotenone, an insecticide and also used to stupefy fish; mildly toxic to humans.
