Birds can definitely be around flowers. In fact, it is quite common to see birds in gardens, parks, and other areas where flowers are growing. There are a few reasons why birds are often found near flowers.
Birds eat parts of flowers
One of the main reasons birds are attracted to flowers is because many bird species eat parts of flowers such as the nectar, pollen, seeds, or even the petals. Nectar-eating birds like hummingbirds and sunbirds have specialized beaks and tongues to slurp up the sugary nectar from flowers. Seeds contained within flowers are also a food source for many seed-eating bird species like finches, sparrows, and buntings. Some birds may also eat flower petals, using them as a source of nutrients.
Here are some examples of birds that eat parts of flowers:
- Hummingbirds – eat nectar
- Honeyeaters – eat nectar
- Sunbirds – eat nectar
- Lorikeets – eat nectar and pollen
- Sparrows – eat seeds
- Finches – eat seeds
- Buntings – eat seeds
- Flowerpeckers – eat flower petals and nectar
Flowers provide an excellent food source for these nectar-eating and seed-eating birds. That is why it is common to see birds foraging in gardens where flowers are blooming.
Birds help pollinate flowers
In addition to eating flower parts, birds also play an important ecological role in pollinating flowers. As birds move between flowers to feed on nectar and pollen, they inadvertently carry pollen grains on their feathers and beaks. This pollen is then deposited on the next flower the bird feeds from, enabling cross-pollination between different flowers of the same species.
Some birds have evolved specialized body structures to enhance their role as pollinators. For example, hummingbirds have tubes-like tongues that can reach deep into tubular flowers to extract nectar. As they move their head around inside the flower, their head picks up pollen which can then be transferred. Sunbirds in Africa and Australia also have adaptations like curved beaks and tongues to help pollinate flowers.
Research has shown that some plant species rely heavily or even exclusively on birds for pollination, especially in tropical ecosystems. Without birds, these important plant-pollinator relationships would be disrupted.
Flowers attract insects that birds eat
In addition to eating flower parts directly, birds will also feed on insects and small invertebrates that are commonly found on flowers. Brightly colored or strongly scented flowers will attract a variety of insects looking for nectar and pollen. In turn, insect-eating birds frequent flowering plants since they know insects will congregate there.
Some common insect-eating birds that can be found feeding on flowers include:
- Flycatchers
- Swallows
- Warblers
- Chickadees
- Creepers
- Nuthatches
- Woodpeckers
- Orioles
- Tanagers
These birds will glean through flower heads looking for any lurking insects. So flowers essentially act as a magnet to attract bird food in the form of small invertebrates.
Flowers provide nesting materials
Birds will also visit flowers to gather materials that they use in building nests. Many bird species construct intricate, tightly woven nests out of various plant materials including stems, leaves, twigs as well as soft materials like mosses and lichens. Flowers can provide an abundant source of such nesting materials.
Birds may pluck soft petals or bits of leaves, stems, or vines from flowers to help form the interior lining of a nest. Plant fibers from flowers can also be interwoven to form the bulk structure of these bird nests. Some birds are very selective, only gathering specific flowering plants to construct their nests.
Here are a few examples of birds that utilize parts of flowers for nest-building:
- Hummingbirds – use plant down, thistle, and milkweed fibers
- Chaffinches – use willow catkins and plant down
- Weaver birds – use long grass stems and flower fibers
- Orioles – use flowering plant fibers like milkweed
Having flowers available provides these birds with the right materials needed to build safe, cozy nests in which to lay and incubate their eggs.
Some potential downsides of birds on flowers
While there are benefits to attracting birds around flowers, there are also some potential downsides in certain cases:
- Birds can damage flowers – In their quest to get at nectar, pollen and insects, birds may shred flower petals or stomp all over delicate blooms.
- Birds spread diseases between flowers – Birds could potentially spread bacterial, fungal or viral plant diseases as they move from flower to flower.
- Birds disturb bees and butterflies – Aggressive or territorial birds may scare away more effective pollinators like bees and butterflies.
- Birds leave droppings on flowers and foliage – Bird feces can be unsightly and require cleanup.
- Birds damage fruit flowers – Birds like starlings will damage fruit tree blossoms, reducing crop yields.
The benefits tend to outweigh potential drawbacks for most gardeners and the ecosystem. But it’s worth being aware of possible downsides of excessive bird numbers around certain sensitive flowers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, birds are commonly found around flowers due to the multitude of benefits that flowers provide for birds. Flowers offer food sources like nectar, pollen, seeds, and insects. They also supply nesting materials from plant fibers. And flowers allow birds to play their ecological role as pollinators of many plant species. While drawbacks are possible, most birds and flowers enjoy a largely symbiotic relationship that is an important part of a healthy ecosystem.
