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.

The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) is a common resident in Singapore. Formerly more widespread, the population decline has been attributed to loss of nesting grounds and human disturbances.

KN Pan’s study of the heron in comfort behaviour shows it exposing the inner wing feathers to the sun for about five minutes before preening the feathers (above). Preening takes up a substantial amount of time as the bird needs to keep the feathers in top form. This is done with the aid of the massive bill.

Where the bill cannot reach, like around the head, the extremely long middle toe comes into play. Note that the leg is raised from under the wing to reach the head, characteristic of terrestrial birds (left). Among aboreal birds, the leg is extended over the wing to reach the head, as seen in Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica).

According to our bird specialist R Subaraj, the Purple Heron above is not a full adult. Based on the colour of the wings and back, it is slowly becoming one.

Reference:
Wang, L.K. & C. J. Hails, 2007. An annotated checklist of birds of Singapore. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Supplement 15: 1-179.

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

These images by Hong & Cheng a.k.a. catspace show a Spotted Wood Owl (Strix seloputo) indulging in its comfort behaviour. This includes it stretching a wing and a leg, usually one side at a time (above left). Then it preened its feathers to keep them in top condition (above right). Those feathers around the head area where the bill has no access, the owl has to use its feet to scratch (left).

Here, scratching is direct, done by raising its foot from under its wing, characteristic of terrestrial birds, as seen in the Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri), also in the Grey Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus). Among aboreal birds, on the other hand, scratching is indirect. The leg is extended over the wing to reach the head, as in Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica).

Images by Hong & Cheng, taken at Jurong in September 2009.

Dr Jeff Lim documented a female Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia) catching a caterpillar from the tree canopy, smacked it against its perch to kill it as well as to remove the stomach content (above)…

…before repositioning it for swallowing. With a swift fling, it tossed the dead caterpillar into its throat. Note the pink tongue of the iora sticking out (above right). The bird then cleaned her bill by wiping it against the perch.

Shortly after the meal, she performed a sequence of stretching exercises beginning with a twisting motion (above left), followed by a puffing-cum-twisting motion (above centre) and ending with an angel’s wing stretch (above right).

All images by Dr Jeff Lim.

Lee Tiah Khee captured an image of an Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) in its comfort behaviour.

As in most birds, the cuckoo stretched it’s pair of wings to give itself an “angel” pose and at the same time fanned its tail feathers.

Check out the comfort behaviour of other birds: kingfisher, hornbill, bee-eater and Lineated Barbet.

Image by Lee Tiah Khee.

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