“Nobody is really sure how or when the Australian Mulberry (Pipturus argenteus) got introduced to Singapore LINK. This small tree does not have much to recommend it, except the ability to attract birds. It is rather sparse and untidy, and … Continued
“I was away helping with postgraduate training and took the opportunity to visit a nearby forest. Unfortunately it rained for hours and I decided to do a long forest walk. I had brief, ‘drier’ opportunities to watch birds. “I was … Continued
The link to this paper on self-medication among animals came from field ornithologist Wang Luan Keng. The article triggers this post on self-medication among birds. Many of us are familiar with dogs and cats seeking out certain grasses to chew … Continued
“I was out with friends today and we observed a number of Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus pattani) feeding on a small fruit (white berries with embedded seeds) called the Native or Australian Mulberry (Pipturus argenteus) (above). “The birds included the: … Continued
“An adult Lineated Barbet (Megalaima lineata hodgsonii) at a fruiting ficus in the city. “A common bird and visits our urban garden frequently to eat papaya (Carica papaya). Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia 3rd June 2017 Habitat: Urban … Continued
“I was fortunate today to come across a single male yellow colour form or yellow morph of the Pin-tailed Parrotfinch (Erythrura prasina prasina). This bird was on its own and was feeding actively on bamboo seeds (I saw the red … Continued
“Three Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) were seen feeding on the fruits of the African Tulip (Spathodea campanulata) tree at Lorong Halus near the Coney Island East entrance on 9th August 2017. Here is a video showing one of the parakeets … Continued
Heather Goessel’s image of the Yellow-vented Bulbul below shows the bird eating the flowers of the Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola). According to Heather this bulbul loves the starfruit flowers and appears several times a day to snack on them. Obviously the … Continued
Both the male and female Olive-backed Sunbirds (Nectarinia jugularis) were caught on video (below) stealing nectar from flowers of Costus woodsonii, commonly known as Scarlet Spiral Flag (above). Stealing here refers to birds obtaining nectar by unconventional means, thus not … Continued
Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra cinereicollis) feeding on the nectar of the Malayan Teak (Vitex pinnata).The fruit of this tree is also taken by spiderhunters. Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia 21st June 2017 Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, … Continued
