{"id":70683,"date":"2024-01-06T14:10:47","date_gmt":"2024-01-06T06:10:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/besgroup.org\/?p=70683"},"modified":"2024-01-07T11:15:41","modified_gmt":"2024-01-07T03:15:41","slug":"70683","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besgroup.org\/2024\/01\/06\/70683\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Sugar Fight’ at an African Tulip Tree"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Many birds feed on the nectar found in the flowers of the Spathodea campanulata<\/em>, commonly called the African Tulip Tree (Wee-Yeow Chin & Amar-Singh HSS 2023). If the tree is located close to the forest, then a number of Spiderhunter species will usually turn up (Amar-Singh HSS 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is often some competitive feeding at these trees. The Spectacled Spiderhunters will often actively chase away other species of Spiderhunters and other birds; often making loud calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On 04 January 2024, Perak, Malaysia, we were able to observe a number of birds feeding on Spathodea campanulata nectar. They included Spectacled Spiderhunters Arachnothera flavigaster<\/em>, Grey-breasted Spiderhunters Arachnothera modesta<\/em>, Yellow-eared Spiderhunters Arachnothera chrysogenys<\/em>, Yellow-vented Bulbuls Pycnonotus goiavier<\/em> and Javan Mynas Acridotheres javanicus<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As observed in the past, the Spectacled Spiderhunters were very aggressive in chasing away other Spiderhunter species. To our surprise one Spectacled Spiderhunter attempted to harass a Javan Myna. It fluttered just above the feeding Javan Myna and repeatedly approached close to \u2018threaten it\u2019 (image 1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n