Macarange bancana attracts Green Iora and flycatchers
Posted by BESG on 10 November 09, Tuesday
Contributed by Dato' Dr Amar-Singh HSS
An account of various sunbirds attracted to the seeds of Macaranga bancana was posted earlier. This post documents visits by the Green Iora (Aegithina viridissima viridissima) and two flycatchers.
“According to the Red Data, the Green Iora is Near Threatened, bordering on Vulnerable locally (not internationally). The species is a mainly recorded as feeding on invertebrates / insects (Wells 2007) and my observations confirm this. I have personally documented the bird feeding on flying insects and caterpillars, never fruit.
“However, on 21st October 2009 at the Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve in the Malaysian state of Perak, I had an unexpected encounter with the iora, an adult female, feeding on the fruit of Macaranga bancana. I only saw this one fruit feeding episode in two days I was keeping watch on the tree (left).
“On 24th October 2009, the Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica) dominated the tree throughout this feeding period but I never saw it eat the fruit (although had my suspicions at times). The female Yellow-Rumped Flycatcher (Ficedula zanthopygia) tried to come frequently (managed a few times) but was chased away by the Asian Brown Flycatcher. I suspect both of them were using the feeding frenzy that stirred up insects to feed.”
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Perak, Malaysia
21st/24th October 2009
Reference:
Wells, D.R., 2007. The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. II, Passerines. Christopher Helm, London. 800 pp.
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