Subject: [Hong Kong] [Sad] Eurasian Tree Sparrow killed by a Chinese Pond Heron [Print This Page] Author: puppymic Time: 26/11/2017 22:21 Subject: [Sad] Eurasian Tree Sparrow killed by a Chinese Pond Heron
估唔到池鷺係會食麻雀既，唔通係因為無魚食而改變行為？
Author: ddavid Time: 26/11/2017 22:47
Interesting record and photographs.
Handbook of the Birds of the World states that the Chinese Pond Heron feeds on "Small frogs, worms, aquatic invertebrates, fish, molluscs, worms, some terrestrial insects and even small birds."
I imagine small birds make up a very small part of their diet and it is a matter of opportunistic feeding; i.e. Chinese Pond Herons may spend a long time stalking mud-skippers out on the mud flats, for example, but will only take small birds if the birds blunder into their vicinity.
Doubt there are many photographs out there showing a Chinese Pond Heron taking a Eurasian Tree Sparrow!!
FYI. There was a record of CPH eating a swallow (pls check 1994 HK Bird Report). Author: louislee Time: 27/11/2017 14:14
Heron has shown behaviour of feeding on small birds. I remember a HK bird report in the 90s documented that either a Grey heron or Chinese pond heron was seen having a Common kingfisher in its mouth. Author: lpaul Time: 28/11/2017 13:16
Did it actually eat the sparrow? Author: kmatthew Time: 28/11/2017 21:32
I was also there when it happened, only a week before this I saw a Chinese Pond Heron take a Scaly-breasted Munia! I believe the Heron manage to swallow it in the end. Author: wcaptain Time: 29/11/2017 10:12
CPH is an opportunistic predator and often uses a "sit and wait" tactic to capture prey. So, their prey items can be big. On mudflats, they are capable to capture and swallow mudskippers (around 10-15cm?). Based on chick regurgitate, other large prey items include musk shrew, paddy frog, Chinese Forest Skink, and Bowring's Gecko (p55, Ecology of Birds of HK). So, it can swallow a large prey like tree sparrows without difficulty.
Black-crowned Night Heron is even more notorious, not only large fish like catfish and koi, but also Tree sparrow and red-whiskered Bulbul. They even prey on chicks of other waterbirds nesting nearby..... Author: lalan Time: 15/12/2017 15:43
溺死再食嗎？
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