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One raptor standing tall at the top of a tree has caught the attention of a Bedok resident.
The lone raptor was perching upright while surveying around its surroundings.
Here's how it looks:
Photo via Singapore Wildlife Sightings/Facebook.
Raptor looking disproportionately huge
The resident took a photo from level 5, looking out from her house.
She then shared it with other nature lovers in the Singapore Wildlife Sighting Facebook group where some comments pointed out the resemblance to Godzilla.
Photo via Singapore Wildlife Sightings/Facebook.
This is not the first time the resident spotted the raptor, here's another photo taken in March:
Photo courtesy of Bedok resident.
The photos shared in Singapore Wildlife Sighting Facebook group have sparked off a discussion over what raptor this is.
A resident or winter visitor?
While a few comments suggest that the raptor could be a white-bellied sea eagle, Singapore's largest common raptor, it is probably an oriental honey buzzard.
Nature guide Ivan Kwan commented on the post that the relatively small head and slender bill suggests that it is more likely an oriental honey buzzard. This is echoed by another seasoned birder that Mothership spoke to.
Oriental honey buzzard is a common migratory bird which typically arrives in Singapore from Southern Siberia and parts of East Asia in September to escape from the winter cold.
The adults will typically head back to the North during Spring time while some juveniles might overstay in Singapore till the summer period, according to the Singapore Bird Group. They typically reside in forested areas and feed on larvae and honey of bees and wasps. They also prey on small reptiles and insects.
On the other hand, white-bellied sea eagle is a resident raptor in Singapore. They usually build large nests on tall trees and inhabit near coastal areas, as its name suggests. These eagles prey mainly on fish and can be sighted islandwide.
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Top image via Singapore Wildlife Sighting/Facebook