Dr Jeff Lim sent in a short video of a female Asian Paradise-flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) perching on a branch. The male was nearby. The video was recorded during the migratory season in October. The video shows the female winter visitor spending some time simply perching on the branch. But she was very alert to the surroundings. Her head was moving from left to right and back (above left and centre). At times the head even pointed backwards (above right).

The ability of birds to turn their heads 180º in either direction is unique among vertebrates. This enables them to look backwards without moving the body and thus to stay ever alert.

Into the middle of the video, the bird suddenly cocked her crest (above left and centre) and straightened up, with her greyish chest momentarily lighting up like a little light bulb (above right).

The video can be viewed HERE.

The above images are video grabs from Dr Jeff Lim’s video.

Calvin Chang a.k.a. deswitch documented a male Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum) feasting on the fruits of Pipturus argenteus (Family Urticaceae) around the Dairyfarm area in Singapore in November 2009.

An earlier post shows an Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) eating the same fruits. This is an introduced weedy plant of wastelands.

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

“It is a marvel what photographic images can capture. Often, moments that are too quick or sudden for our eyes could be captured unwittingly in our pictures. Some of these images could throw up clues or details that can be studied later and in the luxury of time.

“Closer scrutiny of images of the White-Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) posted earlier (that was being mobbed by crows) revealed that, at one stage, regurgitating (or was it vomiting?) took place. Attached are cropped images showing the sequence of the eagle’s regurgitation that may be of interest.

“Before the regurgitation of some fluid-like substance, the eagle was in an awkward stance with its neck stretched and hunched (above).

“In the images above, some thread-like fluid could be seen falling out from its beak onto the structure of the TV antenna. If you look closely, the substance in the image on the right resembles a fishing line.

“The “fishing line” is also visible in the image on the left, clinging on and dripping from the dark rectangular bar.

“Surprisingly, during the period of regurgitation, a moment of respite occurred for the eagle when the crows were watching its behaviour instead of taking that opportune time to gain the upper hand.”

Kwong Wai Chong
Singapore
26th November 2009

Note: Is it possible that the eagle earlier ate a fish with part of the line still attached to it? If so, there must be a hook somewhere…

According to Lim Poh Bee, there have been many reports of different species of birds including the Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) feasting on the seeds of the yellow simpoh air (Dillenia suffruticosa) (1, 2 and 3).

“But in early November 2009 I observed a pair of Pink-necked Green Pigeons at Bukit Batok Nature Park picking the yellow petals of the simpoh air flowers and swallowing them. It was a surprising sight,” recounts Poh Bee.

“The actions were very fast but were repeated several times. After all the petals from one flower were finished, the pigeons would go to another flower and consumed the petals from there too. As can be seen from the image attached, the birds seemed to be enjoying themselves. The petals must have been very delicious morsels.”

An earlier post shows the Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) eating the flowers of the starfruit tree (Averrhoa carambola).

“Upon receiving a tip-off from a bird forum, I rushed down to capture a few shots of this rare winter visitor and passage migrant, the Malayan Night Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus). The heron is globally near-threatened.

“The heron stayed close to a bush and was a far distance away. I spent about an hour and a half observing it before it started feeding on something from the ground. It picked up a large earthworm, pulling it from the ground. It was a struggle to swallow the wriggling earthworm, taking about 15 minutes before succeeding.

“The heron then became lethargic and retreated behind some thick bushes.”