WETlands
a publication of Sungei Buloh Nature Park
Vol 5 No 3
Nov 98

Colourful Migratory Birds:
Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Common Kingfisher,
Black-capped Kingfisher

BirdWatch '98: how to tell
waders apart

A Year in
the Life of Waders:
migration and breeding

Birds of
Pulau Ubin:
The Red Junglefowl
(Gallus gallus)

Butterfly Appreciation

Friends of
the Park: a tribute to the volunteers

Essence of the Natural Experience:
the year in 1998

Why Wader Census?
Counting shorebirds
at Sungei Buloh
Colourful Migratory Birds

Venture with James Gan
as he gets us acquainted
with these 'flying colours' from afar

Blue-tailed Bee-eater

Many of you may be familiar with the waders of earthy tones that make their appearance in Sungei Buloh in the later part of the year. But do you know that Sungei Buloh Nature Park also attracts many migratory birds that are non-waders and in all colours too?

Nature lovers will be interested to know that Singapore is located within the non-breeding area for these other migratory birds. The birds can usually be seen at the Park between September and March during their non-breeding period. Let us take a look at three of these birds.


The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) breeds in Northern Asia such as Taiwan and Korea. This is a small, compact blue bird often seen perching on posts or branches in the Park. Migration occurs mainly at night and it may even fly over mountains. It is also adept at flying close to the ground and water at speeds of over 40km an hour! Look for it at the Visitor Centre ponds and catch it in action!

Known to be strongly territorial, the Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) usually returns to the same area to winter every year. Being large and with plumage of blue, white and black, it is fairly prominent. However, it is also fairly shy. So while looking for it at the Mangrove Arboretum, be very quiet and avoid sudden movement.
Best observed at the freshwater ponds, the Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) feeds on bees, dragonflies and other insects while in flight. Interestingly, the bee-eater is also known to take small fish for food too. Their migratory patterns are as yet unknown but they can be seen in the Park sporadically during the northern winter season.

So do watch out for these colourful migratory birds on your next visit to the Park.
 
© Sungei Buloh Nature Park