“The Scaly-Breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus squamatus webberi) is arguably one of our most beautiful bulbuls. I have always observed it as part of a mixed foraging party at a fruiting ficus in primary jungle. In the past I have usually seen it alone.

“On this occasion saw a pair of adults, assumed breeding pair, who moved around together. I have seldom heard it call and on this occasion heard it twice only (it was choice of documenting feeding or waiting for a call, tough choice). It was a sharp “wit”.

“The pair foraged closely together, seldom more than 1-2 meters apart. They did not use calls to keep in touch. Even when I approached the tree at 4-5 meters distance there were no warning calls uttered.

“It is usually shy but on this occasion allowed me extended views and I saw many feeding episodes. It came to feed on the Ficus villosa fruit (above), but after a short time moved over to an adjacent fruiting tree with small berries where it spent a long time feeding (right).

“Unsure of the name of the tree – it is 3.5-4 meters tall, has small light green berries which turn purple when ripe. Many other bulbuls also like these berries including the Spectacled Bulbul (P. erythropthalmos), the Red-eyed Bulbul (P. brunneus) and the Cream-vented Bulbul (P. simplex simplex).”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
15th June 2010

Red Data Status: Near threatened.

Lena Chow sent in an image of a Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna) stealing nectar from the large flower of the angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia x candida). The image was taken at Fraser’s Hill, Malaysia where she was holidaying in August 2010.

The plant is a hybrid between two tropical Andean species, B. aurea and B. versicola. It is a popular ornamental and widely cultivated for its large, hanging, trumpet-shaped flowers. The plant’s natural pollinator is a species of night moth with a very long proboscis. The Streaked Spiderhunter here is probing the base of the flower to get at the nectar – just like the sunbird stealing nectar from the hibiscus flower or the bulbul stealing nectar from that of the African tulip.

Brugmansia as well as Datura are notoriously known for their poisonous and hallucinogenic properties. The main ingredients are hyoscyamine and scopolamine, found in all parts of the plant. These plants have a long history of medicinal and ritual use.

In the ancient Hindu custom of suttee, a recently widowed woman was supposed to walk into her husband’s burning funeral pyre. Apparently the widow was fed with datura seeds that disorientated her, thus allowing others to direct her into the funeral pyre.

References:
1. Wee, Y.C. (2005). Plants that heal, thrill and kill. SNP Reference, Singapore.
2. Whistler, W. A. (2000). Tropical Ornamentals - a guide. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.

At the Keledang Sayong Forest Reserve in Perak, Malaysia on 24th April 2010, Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS observed what he believes to be a maternal protective behaviour.

He was watching a female Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum cruentatum) and a juvenile that was noisly begging for food. The adult was feeding it with the fruit of Melastoma malabathricum. The male was not around.

“As I was watching at eye level, from about 3-4 meters, the female stopped and flew straight at me, eye level,” recounted Amar. “There have been very few instances where birds have flown straight at me. It then flew past my head to settle just behind me to feed in some mistletoe. The juvenile did not follow.”

“I turned to watch at less than a meter. She continued to do this for about a minute. She seemed satisfied that my attention was now on her, and not the juvenile, then flew back to the original Melastoma plant to continue feeding the juvenile,” continued Amar. “I felt this behaviour was ‘protective parenting’ and decided the leave them without further disturbance/observation. I offer this observation as a possible mechanism by this flowerpecker to distract a potential threat from a juvenile.”

For an account of the Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker and Melastome malabathricum as well as images of the bird and plant, please see HERE.

“Tambun is a small town on the outskirts of Ipoh that has, in the past 10 years, been engulfed by the city. Now considered a suburban area with large properties and garden.

“Came across this sprawling Ficus benjamina that was fruiting extensively. Full of ‘common’ birds feeding together. There was some minor conflict, but generally enough food to keep everyone busy.

“I have grouped the birds seen over a two hour period into three groups as below:

“Birds seen feeding on Ficus benjamina ‘fruits’:
1. Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans): 4-6 (2-3 pairs) (above left).
2. Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis maculates): 10-12, 2-3 were juvenile feeding independently (above centre).
3. Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis strigata): a flock (more like a swarm) (above right).
4. Yellow Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier analis): 6-8 (mostly adult pairs) (below left).
5. Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala indica): 4-5, 3 were juvenile feeding independently (below centre).
6. Lineated Barbet (Megalaima lineata hodgsoni): one pair.
7. Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius madoci) feeding on fallen ‘fruits’ – they forage on the ground and do not seem to pick ‘fruits’ off the tree.

“Birds suspected to feeding on Ficus benjamina ‘fruits’:
1. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis tristis): one pair, seen checking out ‘fruits’ in tree, actual feeding not seen (above right).
2. Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica): one adult noted in tree but not seen feeding, flew off soon after I came.
3. Peaceful Dove (Geopelia striata) – seen picking on old ‘fruits’ that had dropped on to the pavement below (below left).

“Birds using the Ficus benjamina ‘fruits’ feeding frenzy to get other animal prey:
1. Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia horizoptera) – one pair foraging for caterpillars (above centre).
2. Pied Triller (Lalage nigra striga) – one male foraging for animal prey (above right).”

[The above images show the Coppersmith Barbet's feeding behaviour - pecking off a piece from a fig and then taking the remainder between its mandibles to squash it before swallowing.]

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Tambun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
16th May 2010

“I have just been watching two Straw-headed Bulbuls (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) on a tree outside my study pulling pink petals off bauhinia flowers and eating them. I have never seen this before. Is it rare?” queried Richard Hale on 4th August 2010.

The bauhinia is Blake’s bauhinia or Hongkong orchid tree (Bauhinia x blakeana). It is a hybrid, perhaps between B. variegata and B. purpurea. This is a smallish tree, sparsely branched and popularly grown in gardens for its attractive pink flowers. The leaves are deeply notched, looking like the wings of butterflies.

Birds eating flower petals is not uncommon, as seen with: Pink-necked Green Pigeon and simpoh, Long-tailed Parakeet and simpoh, Long-tailed Parakeet and seram palm, Blue-naped Parrot and sea almond and Red-whiskered Bulbul and starfruit.