Sunday, 6 January 2019

Avian Behaviour - Feeding Habit of the Velvet-fronted nuthatch

 A couple of Velvet-fronted Nuthatch were sighted in a birdwave at Awana hunting for grubs amongst the many fern tree. They have an uncanny ability to search out the insects, pupa or caterpillars in the creavices of the tree trunk and underneath of leaves. As you notice they take all kind of grubs where ever they find them.

All the photos were shot using my Fuji  XT-2 & XF100-400mm lens. TV1/60 F5.6 ISO3200 Heavily cropped and processed from a distance of 40-60ft away. The AF of the camera managed to keep up with the bird's frantic feeding and movement. Tried to use my other camera Nikon P1000 but opportunity of sharp focus picture was near impossible.

This is my first time seeing this specie in the highland circa 500-600m ASL. The Blue Nuthatch is more common here in Awana.



This is the female without the postular line above its eyes
They are really acrobatic in nature and can climb upside down while feeding. They usually in a pair and when they have fledglings they would feed together for quite a period in matter of months before being harrassed to leave.




The Male got a spider 
This the male

























The ritual of the male offering of  catch to its mate was also observed once or twice during my encounter. January onward is mating season?

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