Mangos are a delicious tropical fruit that grow in warm climates around the world. Many different birds eat mangos as part of their diet. Determining exactly which birds eat mangos requires looking at the habitats where mangos grow and the feeding behaviors of local bird species.
Where do mangos grow?
Mangos are native to South and Southeast Asia but are now grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Countries that produce large quantities of mangos include:
- India
- China
- Thailand
- Indonesia
- Mexico
- Brazil
- Pakistan
- Philippines
Many birds in these regions eat mangos as part of their regular diet. The diversity of habitats where mangos grow means many different types of birds have access to and consume this fruit.
What types of birds eat mangos?
Many species of birds are known to eat mangos. Some of the most common types include:
Parrots
Parrots such as macaws, conures, amazons, and parakeets eat mangos. Their strong curved beaks allow them to easily tear into the fruit to get to the soft, sweet flesh. Parrots that live in areas where mangos grow often forage for this fruit to eat.
Tanagers
Tanagers are colorful tropical birds that use their beaks to puncture mangos to feed on the juice and pulp inside. Some species known to eat mangos include:
- Palm tanager
- Blue-gray tanager
- Flame-colored tanager
- White-lined tanager
- Crimson-backed tanager
Toucans
Toucans are found in the tropical forests of Latin America where mangos also grow. Their huge colorful bills allow them to reach and peel mangos. Some toucan species known to eat mangos include:
- Toco toucan
- White-throated toucan
- Channel-billed toucan
Orioles
Orioles such as the hooded oriole, altamira oriole, and Audubon’s oriole all eat the fruit of mango trees. Orioles use their pointed bills to puncture the fruit and consume the pulp.
Cuckoos
Some cuckoo species feed on mangos, particularly the large koels of Asia, Australasia, and Africa. Koesl have heavy curved bills that allow them to peel and eat mangos with ease.
Mynas
The common myna is an invasive bird in many tropical regions where mangos are cultivated. Mynas are omnivorous and readily feed on mangos and raid orchards where they are grown.
Fruit-Eating Habits of Birds
Many birds are important seed dispersers of fruiting plants. When birds feed, the seeds pass through their digestive system and are later deposited through defecation in different locations helping the trees propagate. Mangos are particularly well-adapted to being dispersed by fruit-eating birds.
Some key reasons why birds seek out and feed on the fruits of mango trees:
- Mangos provide abundant food when in season
- Ripe mangos have high sugar content, an important source of energy
- Mango flesh contains antioxidants, beneficial to birds
- The large seeds are passed and spread to new locations
Birds have different adaptations that allow them to access and consume fruit:
- Parrots have curved upper mandibles to peel fruit
- Tanagers and orioles have pointed bills to puncture fruit
- Toucans have large serrated bills that can reach and peel mangos
- Mynas have strong jaws and beaks to tear into the flesh
These physical adaptations make mangos an accessible and beneficial food source for many tropical bird species around the world.
Birds That Don’t Eat Mangos
While mangos are a source of food for many birds, there are also many species that do not consume this fruit. Some examples include:
- Birds of prey – Eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls are strictly carnivores and do not eat fruit.
- Aerial insectivores – Swallows, swifts, and nightjars feed exclusively on insects caught in flight.
- Shorebirds – Sandpipers, plovers, and gulls largely feed on aquatic invertebrates and fish.
- Alpine species – Birds high mountain habitats like ptarmigan and snow finch don’t encounter mangos.
- Aquatic birds – Ducks, geese, pelicans, and loons feed in water and do not consume mangos.
Birds with specialized diets related to their environments do not have access to tropical fruit like mangos and do not gain any nutritional value from them. Their habitats, physiological constraints, and evolutionary adaptations lead these species to pursue other food sources.
Conclusion
Mangos are an important food source for many tropical bird species around the world. Parrots, tanagers, toucans, orioles, cuckoos, and mynas are examples of birds with specialized adaptations that allow them to access, peel, and consume mangos. However, there are also many bird groups like raptors, aerial insectivores, shorebirds, alpine species, and aquatic birds that do not eat mangos because of their geographic ranges, dietary specializations, and evolutionary constraints.
