{"id":69444,"date":"2023-07-04T16:24:46","date_gmt":"2023-07-04T08:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/besgroup.org\/?p=69444"},"modified":"2023-07-04T18:56:13","modified_gmt":"2023-07-04T10:56:13","slug":"nesting-sunda-pygmy-woodpeckers-yungipicus-moluccensis-food-items-observations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besgroup.org\/2023\/07\/04\/nesting-sunda-pygmy-woodpeckers-yungipicus-moluccensis-food-items-observations\/","title":{"rendered":"Nesting Sunda Pygmy Woodpeckers Yungipicus moluccensis<\/i>: Food Items & Observations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
A colleague was kind to inform me about nesting Sunda Pygmy Woodpeckers Yungipicus moluccensis<\/em> at the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, Perak, Malaysia. I managed to visit on one occasion, 1 June 2023, and spent 2 hours (8-10am, with no break) observing the nesting behaviour. Some observations from this visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The nest was located in a dead mangrove tree a few meters off the boardwalk. The hole was excavated into the trunk of the tree, 3-4 meters above ground level. Wells (1999) notes that the tree species preferred in mangrove forests is not known. However, the majority of trees in this part of the forest (almost uniform) are Bruguiera sexangula<\/em> (commonly called the Upriver Orange Mangrove, or locally Tumu Putih) and this could be the tree type used. See Images 1 and 2 showing the nest location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Observations were made from some distance on the boardwalk using an 800mm lens. The adults appeared comfortable with the single human observer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both parents tend to the juveniles and bring food. It is usually not possible to distinguish male from female, as the red on the hindcrown of male is often obscured. But I occasionally observed both birds arriving at the nest one after the other; one waiting for the partner to complete feeding before alighting at the nest entrance. In addition, the frequency of feeding suggests both parents feed juveniles. Occasionally I have observed the red on the hindcrown of male.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The adult flight to the nest was careful. Occasionally it was direct, alighting near the nesting hole. More often they landed on a nearby branch and observed for predators. They then proceeded to land either above or below the hole and then crept down or up. The flight away from the nest was direct and fast into the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Food Items brought to Juveniles<\/strong> The vast majority of the food items were invertebrates or insects.<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> Images 1: Overview of the nest location<\/td> Images 2: Closer view of the nest location<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I observed 21 feeding episodes over the 2 hours giving a mean time of 5.7 minutes between feeds. The range was 1 to 16 min, with a mode of 1 min, and a median of 3 min.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of the 9 invertebrates, 4 were worms that looked like maggots. Some others could be larvae.
Of the 9 insects, 3 were crickets, 1 large fly, 1 Woodlouse, 1 winged insect.
One episode was fruit, small berries.
2 food items were unknown (not seen well).
The animal prey appeared to have been processed by the adults.
See image 3 which is a composite of some food items. Image 4 shows an adult at the nest with a cricket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n