Willi Kwek photographed a fly running around the body of the fledgling Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis). “This fly, also seen on the other doves, appears to have special adaptations on its feet for holding onto feathers,” says Willi. “It also has a flat profile for easy burrowing through the feathers. It appears to irritate the dove, who would try to peck at it or to preen it off, but the fly is too quick. It darts all over the bird’s body, burrowing in and out, and it’s difficult to predict where or when it would next reappear on the surface. Thought your biology or ornithology friends might be interested. Took these photo with my kit lens so not so detailed.”

According to Dr Leong Tzi Ming, “The parasitic fly on the Spotted Dove is most likely to be the cosmopolitan Louse Fly, Pseudolynchia canariensis (Order Diptera: family Hippoboscidae: subfamily Ornithomyinae). It is a highly evolved, obligate ecto-parasite of birds, with a dorso-ventrally flattened body designed to slide in between feathers with ease. It also has robust limbs with strong claws, that aid in hanging on to a rapidly flying host. In Singapore, this parasitic fly has been recorded from Feral Pigeons (Columba livia), and is itself a vector for the hematozoan endoparasite, Haemoproteus columbae (Paperna & Smallridge, 2002). The Louse Fly has also been reported on many other avian hosts, including the Malayan Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus) (Lee & Amin-Babjee, 1993).

Image by Willi Kwek.

References:
1. Lee, C. C. & S. M. Amin-Babjee, 1993. New host records of parasites in the Malayan Red Jungle Fowl, Gallus gallus spadiceus. Pertanika J. Trop. Agric. Sci., 16(2): 107-110.
2. Paperna, I. & C. Smallridge, 2002. Haemoproteus columbae infection of feral pigeons in Singapore and Israel. Raffles Bull. Zool., 50(2): 281-286.

“Birds flock and roost together for many reasons. One reason I can think of is that as a collective unit, they are more alert with many pair of eyes that are able to look at different directions. Thus, the probability of spotting a predator will be increased significantly.

“A flock of birds consisting of Pink-necked Green Pigeons (Treron vernans) and Asian Glossy Starlings (Aplonis panayensis) was roosting peacefully in a tree one early morning (above). Suddenly, the birds screeched and took flight. Collectively, the birds must have spotted a predator and took evasive action. Sensing danger, the birds were reacting instantaneously. In a split second, all the birds were in the sky and the tree was barren of birds.

“The evasive action took less than two seconds. It was interesting to note that the fastest and first to react were the Asian Glossy Starlings. The Pink-necked Green Pigeons were noticeably slower in taking flight. What spooked the birds? No, it was not a bird of prey or raptor. It was a pair of Oriental Pied Hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris) flying above (below left).

“The pigeons and starlings were probably alarmed by the large, odd looking hornbills, probably mistaking them for predators. The hornbills were later seen sharing the same tree. However, the smaller birds accorded due respect to the hornbills by perching on the opposite branches of the dead tree (above right).

“The hornbills did not bother the smaller birds but were indulging in preening and allopreening (below). 

It was observed that the female joined the male on the branch and initiated allopreening. There were occasions when she reached below the branch to delicately touch the male’s tail feathers, which she later raised with her bills and preened. Is this part of courtship behaviour?



“I believe that this pair of hornbills have made Pasir Ris Park their home and may be prospecting for a nest. I have spotted the couple on at least three different days over the past fortnight. 

To the officials of National Parks Board, please watch out for the hornbills at Pasir Ris Park when carrying out tree maintenance. The oriental pied hornbills, first originating from Pulau Ubin, then moved to Changi, could have started their highly awaited propagation on mainland Singapore.

 Lets all do our part to help conserve this majestic birds.

”

Kwong Wai Chong
Singapore
16th December 2009

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).

A pair of Peaceful Doves (Geopelia striata) landed on a branch just after a light shower the other evening. They sat there, sometimes apart, at other times close together. They were obviously indulging in a little rest and some comfort behaviour, preening.

What caught my attention were their eyes. The image above-left shows left bird has its eye closed while the right bird has its eye open. The image above-right shows the left bird now has its eye open but covered with the nictitating membrane, the third eyelid. The eye of the bird on the right is now closed.

When the eye is opened, the bird is obviously alert to its surroundings. When the eye is covered with the nictitating membrane, the bird is still alert, as it can see through the membrane. A closed eye does not mean that the bird is oblivious to its surroundings. Notice that the eye is not totally covered by the eyelids. There is a narrow slit that allows the bird to see. So the birds are resting but fully alert.

I was half expecting the pair of doves to remain on the branch for the night. But I was wrong. Within about half an hour, it was then 6.30 pm, they flew off, probably in search of a less exposed perch for the night.

On 5th September 2009, Kwong Wai Chong encountered a pair of juvenile Peaceful Doves (Geopelia striata), also known as Zebra Doves (above left). One dove was mounting the other, probably its sibling (above right).

“I had discovered one of the birds and was capturing its image when it suddenly flew away to another tree. As I made my way there, I realised that there were two juvenile birds perched on the same branch. As I approached, one of the birds suddenly jumped on the other. For probably 3 seconds, it was on top of the other bird. I managed only one shot before they separated, leaving one on the branch.

“It cannot be ascertained whether there was actual mating contact. Were they playing? Or instinct at work? It is fascinating that these juvenile birds could behave in such a manner.”

Juvenile birds regularly imitate adults and play at mating. This was probably one such example. An earlier post shows a pair of juvenile Asian Glossy Starlings doing the same thing.