Hi Peter and Birding-ausers.
Peter Ewin wrote:
> Are Drongoes attracted to flowering trees, and is this because of the
> flowers, or the associated insects?
Last year I was supprised to see a Spangled Drongo feeding from a Heath
Banksia, Banksia ericifolia, blossom. Like you Peter I considered Drongos
insectivious but as the bird appeared to be taking nectar I decided to check
the blossoms for insects. After it moved on I inspected the blossoms it had
been feeding from and could find no insects, nor were there any insects to
be seen on the other blossoms on that rather low and isolated banksia. When
I arrived home I checked the literature and found in Pizzey and Knight that
Drongos, amongst other things, "feeds on blossom nectar"
Perhaps Drongos started off taking insects from blossom and in the process
acquired a liking for nectar, who knows?
Bruce.
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