Fig 1
Fig 2
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Ioras comprise the family Aegithinidae, of which
there are just four species. They occur mainly in
lowland tropical forests and sometimes mangrove. The Common Iora
Aegithina tiphia, has adapted well to parks and gardens.
They are small, sparrow-sized birds with short bills and short, thin legs
and a short tail. The plumage of the various species comprises a mix of yellow, green and black.
Males are brightly coloured, especially during the breeding season, and
females more plain.
These birds are mainly active in the treetops, sometimes descending to
mid-canopy level, but rarely to low-level or ground. Typically the male can
be heard calling from the highest branch of a tree - the call comprises a
variety of melodic whistles.
Their food prey includes insects and spiders. Their cup-shaped nests are
constructed from dried grasses, held together with spider webs : these are
discretely located in the high branches of leafy trees.
Three of the species of iora occur in Southeast Asia, and the other is
confined to the Indian subcontinent.
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Figs 1 to 3:
Common Iora - male (breeding colours)
Aegithina tiphia
Habitat : Secondary forest
Location : Portsdown, Singapore.
Notes :
Fig 1 : The Common Iora is mainly active in the treetops, rarely coming to
ground level.
Fig 2 : Insects comprise the main food source of ioras.
Fig 3 : Gathering spider webs, which are used to bind together other nesting
material, mainly grasses. |
