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Singapore has a feather in its cap

Despite its small size, the country is home to an array of wildlife, including about 150 species of resident birds

The oriental pied hornbill, an iconic bird in Singapore, near a tree cavity in Holland Drive on Jan 20. It is an uncommon and endangered resident bird. The species was extinct in Singapore for nearly a century but recolonised Pulau Ubin in the early 1990s. Due to an extensive reintroduction programme, the hornbills have gone on to spread more widely on mainland Singapore. The birds are usually found feeding at fruit trees in small groups. They eat small lizards, snakes and large arthropods. And they look large and spectacular with their huge bills and a prominent casque. They are the only truly wild hornbills found in Singapore and play an important role in the health of forests, dispersing seeds that are too big for smaller birds to eat. ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

A grey heron trying to eat a zebra tilapia at the Japanese Garden on Nov 29 last year. The fish was too big and the bird gave up after struggling for about 15 minutes. The grey heron is the most common large resident bird here. The species is widespread across Eurasia, Africa, East and South-east Asia. The bird can also be found at sandy beaches, reefs, mangroves, coastal mudflats, freshwater marshes, wet grasslands and canals. Its distinctive features include a mainly white-coloured head and neck, black cap and nape plumage as well as finely speckled black foreneck. The bird’s back and wings are grey. Breeding adults also have bright pinkish-orange bills.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

A pair of chestnut munias at the Kranji Marshes on Feb 17. The resident bird has declined in numbers in recent years and is increasingly uncommon due to the loss of grasslands. It can also be found in freshwater marshes and secondary scrubs here, and in East India, South China, mainland South-east Asia, East Philippines, Sulawesi and the Maluku Islands. It has a black head and throat as well as a rich chestnut-coloured body and a pale greyish-blue bill. ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO

Two Asian glossy starlings near Block 44 Holland Drive on Jan 17. The birds are a very common resident of secondary forests, forest edges, scrubs, old plantations, parklands and urban areas. They have an entirely glossy bluish-green plumage, which ap — A crimson sunbird at the Dairy Farm Nature Park on Jan 15. The common red-breasted resident bird has been unofficially touted as Singapore's national bird since 2002 when it topped a poll on the topic organised by the Nature Society (Singapore). The 12cm-long bird can be found feeding on nectar and small invertebrates in primary and secondary forests, scrubs, old plantations and parklands. It is also found in most of mainland South-east Asia, the Himalayan foothills, East India, South China, Greater Sundas and Sulawesi. The male is mostly red, with dark blue forehead and brownish wings. The rump is yellowish, underparts are dark grey and the tail is dark violet. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

A banded woodpecker at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Jan 10. It can be found in primary and secondary forests, forest edges, scrubs and old plantations here, and in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and Java. The bird has a yellow nape, a red crown, maroon wings and an olive-green back. The neck of a male woodpecker is red on the sides. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

A pair of spotted wood owls on Jan 17. The bird is an uncommon resident of secondary forests, forest edges, old plantations, secondary scrubs and urban parklands. It is endangered in Singapore. It can also be found in parts of mainland South-east Asia, Central Sumatra, Java, Palawan and the Thai-Malay Peninsula. The upper parts of the owl’s body are dark brown, with fine white spots, and the underparts are finely barred. Its facial disc is pale brown and heart-shaped, and its eyes are dark brown. It makes a growling “whoo” call at dawn and dusk. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

A great egret at the Geylang River on Jan 3. The bird is a fairly common winter visitor, migrating from breeding grounds in the north. It usually arrives in September and departs in April. Among the distinctive features of a non-breeding Great egret are its yellow bill and facial skin, and black legs. Habitats include coastal mudflats, mangroves, estuaries and water bodies with well-vegetated fringes. ST PHOTO: JAMIE KOH

A black-backed swamphen at the Kranji Marshes on Feb 17. The uncommon resident bird can be found at freshwater marshes and reedbeds. It feeds on small invertebrates and is very wary of danger. It breeds from January to March. The bird has a red bill and legs. It also has a dark purplish-blue plumage and a paler blue head. ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO

An oriental pied hornbill in Holland Drive on Jan 13, 2017. It was extinct in Singapore for nearly a century, but recolonised Pulau Ubin in the early 1990s. Due to an extensive reintroduction programme, it has spread widely on mainland Singapore. ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG

A blue-tailed beeeater at Kranji marshes on Feb 17, 2017. It usually arrives in August and stays until March before moving back to the North. ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO

A red junglefowl, which is the ancestor of all domestic chickens, seen on Feb 2, 2017. It is on the endangered list in the Singapore red data book. Domestic chicken can interbreed with the endangered red junglefowl, and this dilutes the genetic pool of the native red junglefowl. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

A large, noisy flock of whimbrels at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Jan 30, 2017. They arrive in Singapore in early July and depart by late May. They feed on crabs in the muds with their long bills and other invertebrates. ST PHOTO: STEPHANIE YEOW

A buffy fish owl ruffling its feathers amidst a light rain at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Jan 31, 2017. It is nationally endangered in Singapore and also found in East India, mainland Southeast Asia, Thai-Malay Penisula, and Greater Sundas. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

An oriental pied hornbill at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Jan 30, 2017. They are usually found in small groups, feeding at fruit trees. It also eats small lizards, snakes, and large arthropods. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

A pair of red-breasted parakeets on a tree at Changi beach on Dec 18, 2016. It is non-native, but known to breed regularly in Singapore. Under the IUCN 2015 Red List Status, it is a near threatened species globally due to trapping for pet trade. ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN

Updated

Published

Feb 27, 2017, 05:00 AM

With a land area of about 720 sq km that is marked by rapid urbanisation, Singapore is home to a surprisingly diverse array of wildlife.

In fact, about 150 species of birds can be found here all-year round.

To celebrate the colour they bring to our concrete jungle, The Straits Times' photojournalists will showcase birds that often go unnoticed in this first of a two-part Wildlife Singapore series to commemorate World Wildlife Day on Friday.

This annual celebration and move to heighten awareness of the world's wild animals and plants is founded in the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).

The convention - an international agreement between governments with an objective to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival - was signed on March 3, 1973.

But it was about 40 years later, on Dec 20, 2013, that the United Nations General Assembly decided to declare March 3 as World Wildlife Day.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Straits Times picture desk would like to thank the following for their assistance in this project:
National Parks Board
Mr Lim Kim Chuah, chairman of the Nature Society (Singapore) Bird Group
Mr Yong Ding Li, committee member of the Nature Society (Singapore) Bird Group
Ms Ria Tan, naturalist who runs www.wildsingapore.com.

In Singapore, the wildlife list shows more than 390 species of birds. Of these, nearly 150 species are residents here, which means they can be found all-year round, and that there is evidence of them breeding here.

Birds play an important role in the urban landscape here, said Mr Lim Kim Chuah, chairman of the Nature Society (Singapore) Bird Group.

"They help with the reproduction of plants - as pollinators and seed dispersers - and control the population of bugs.

"Birds also provide a recreational and aesthetic value, as enjoying nature and watching wildlife is a great way to relax and de-stress, especially in a hectic environment like Singapore," he added.

"Lastly, parks, gardens and forests attract tourists and, to some extent, eco-tourists. This brings economic benefits to the country," he noted.

Next Monday, the second part of this series will feature our photographers' visual take on the land and sea creatures of Singapore.

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HOME IN FOCUS

Singapore has a feather in its cap

Despite its small size, the country is home to an array of wildlife, including about 150 species of resident birds

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Straits Times