Common Iora feeding bee to chick

Posted by BESG on 10 October 08, Friday
Contributed by Choo Teik Ju

The date was 10th August 2008. The place was Pulau Ubin, Singapore. The photographer was Choo Teik Ju a.k.a. choo.

The subject was an adult Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia) feeding what looked like a bee to its fledgling.

The adult was careful to “process” the food before passing it to the fledgling. It placed the insect into the gaping mouth of the fledgling before retrieving it to “process” it further.

There was loud protest from the fledgling but once the adult thought it safe to eat, it passed the food over.

The Common Iora has been reported to take insects and other arthropods like spiders, mantids, ants, beetles, caterpillars and an occasional butterfly or moth. There is no mention about bees. This is why the adult was rubbing the bee against the branch.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

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