New Food Item for the Spectacled Spiderhunter

Amar-Singh HSS
on 29th November 2024
Image 1: The spectacled Spiderhunter standing above the clump of flowers.

I saw a Spectacled Spiderhunter Arachnothera flavigaster today, 28 November 2024, at Perak, Malaysia, feeding on the nectar of a mistletoe Dendrophthoe incarnata. The bird’s forehead was heavily stained with pollen and it probably aids this plant’s pollination. This mistletoe is found in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. In the past colleagues have posted images of the Temminck’s Sunbird Aethopyga temminckii feeding on this plant species.

Image 2: The Spiderhunter inserting its long narrow beak into the tubal flowers.
Image 3: Reaching for nectar in another flower.

Previous sources of food I have observed for the Spectacled Spiderhunter include:

1.     Nectar of Spathodea campanulata (African Tulip Tree).

2.     Nectar of Etlingera elatior (Torch Ginger or Bunga Kantan).

3.     Nectar of Syzygium grande (Sea Apple).

4.     Nectar of Cocos nucifera (Coconut).

5.     Fruit of the Vitex pinnata (Malayan Teak).

6.     Fruit of the Macaranga gigantea (Giant Mahang).

7.     Fruit of the Macaranga bancana.

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.

Amar-Singh HSS

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS, Cert Theology (Aust, Hons), MBBS (Mal), MRCP (UK), FRCP (Glasg), MSc Community Paediatrics (Ldn, dist), is a Consultant Paediatrician. He served the Malaysian civil service for more than 35 years, led regional Paediatric and Research departments, is an active child advocate and the recipient of a number of international awards. He has been a bird watcher for around 50 years, published two bird books, has a number of international bird publications, contributed to more than 20 international bird books/guides, and contributes to online bird image and audio databases. He is an active contributor to the Bird Ecology Study Group with a large number of detailed posts and write-ups on bird ecology. He is a life member of the Malaysian Nature Society, a member of the BCC-MNS Records Committee, a member of the Oriental Bird Club and supports eBird. He is interested in spending time getting to know bird behaviour and considers himself a bird-friend. Amar is based at Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.

Other posts by Amar-Singh HSS

Update on Frugivory by the Oriental Magpie-Robin

17th January 2025

Eastern Cattle-Egret Sauna?

16th January 2025

Pied Harrier Defence of Migratory Feeding Territory

13th January 2025

Description of a Juvenile Long-billed Spiderhunter

8th January 2025

Siamang Feeding with a Juvenile

3rd January 2025

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Any views and opinions expressed in the articles 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.

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