Pollination by Birds

Pollination by birds is called Ornithophilly. It occurs in at least 10,000 plant species mainly found in the tropics and the temperate southern hemisphere. The highest number of bird-pollinated species are reported in Southwestern Australia. Some birds that help in pollination of flowers are hummingbirds, spiderhunters, drongos, orioles, sunbirds, honeycreepers, and sugar birds. Read this article as it covers pollination by bird notes along with their advantages and disadvantages.

What is Pollination?

Pollination is the process of carrying the pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of the same or another flower. Seeds are produced when pollination occurs between flowers of the same species and it facilitates plant reproduction. Pollination is of two types- self-pollination and cross-pollination. When an ovule of a flower is fertilized by a sperm cell derived from a pollen grain of the same flower or another flower of the same plant; this type of pollination is called self-pollination. But, in the case of cross-pollination, the plant needs a vector or a pollinator such as insects, bats, or birds to transfer the pollen to another flower of the same species.

Pollination by Birds Diagram

The diagram of pollination by birds is given below:

What Birds are Pollinators?

About 800 bird species worldwide are moderately or highly specialized nectar feeders. These birds are considered as pollinating birds. Some of the bird pollinators examples are as follows.

• Hummingbirds, eg. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
• Sunbirds, eg. Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja), Fire-tailed sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda), Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata)
• Honeycreepers, eg. Scarlet honeycreeper (Drepanis coccinea)
• Sugarbirds
• Spiderhunters
• Drongos, eg. Hair-crested drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus)
• Orioles, eg. Maroon oriole (Oriolus traillii), Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
• Red-headed bullfinch (Pyrrhula erythrocephala)
• White-Winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

How Do Birds Pollinate?

The process of pollination occurs by birds in the following manner.

• Birds visit different flowers searching for their food resources i.e. nectar.
• The nectar is usually deeply hidden within the flower.
• When the bird sits on the flower to collect the nectar, the pollen grain from the flower attaches to the bird’s head or neck and back.
• When that bird visits another flower of the same species for the same purpose, the pollen previously attached to its body then falls on the stamen of the flower.
• Thus, the pollen from one flower is transferred to another and pollination occurs.

Pollination By Birds Examples

The flowers of the following plants attract the birds and pollination occurs by them.

• Shrimp plants
• Verbenas
• Bee balm
• Honeysuckles
• Fuchsias
• Hibiscus
• Bromeliads
• Canna
• Strelitzia
• Heliconia
• Costus
• Cardinal flower

Bird-Pollinated Flowers Characteristics

Flower is a modest pollen producer and is designed in such a way that it can dust the head or back of a bird with pollen when the bird forages for nectar. The flowers that are specialized for bird pollination have the following features.

• Large, tubular, and have recurved petals.
• Flowers are tubes or funnels or cup-shaped.
• Provide strong support for perching
• Petals are brightly colored such as red, yellow, or orange
• Unscented (Sense of smell in birds is poor)
• Petals open during the daytime
• Should be a prolific nectar producer having deeply hidden nectar

Advantages of Bird-Pollinated Flowers

Pollination by birds has several advantages which include the following.

• Active in cold weather: Birds are active in cold weather. Therefore, many bird-pollinated plants grow in high altitudes and flowers bloom in winter also.
• Long-distance dispersal of pollen: Birds can fly long distances and carry pollen along with their bodies.
• Gene flow: Long-distance gene flow can be observed in bird-pollinated plants.
• Genetic diversity: A high rate of seed dispersal and propagation helps to maintain the genetic diversity of plant species.

Disadvantages of Bird-Pollinated Flowers

There are some disadvantages of pollination by birds in plants which are as follows.

• More energy requirement: More energy is invested in the case of bird pollination than bee pollination.
• Requirement of more nectar: Bird-pollinated plants produce more amount of nectar and are larger to accommodate the birds.
• Requirement of more flower protection: Bird-pollinated plants have to invest more in flower structures so that they can protect their nectar from scavengers.
• Less differentiation: Birds tend to avoid flowers that are energetically unprofitable for them. Thus it can limit the pollen to a set of seeds in small populations.

Importance of Bird Pollinated Flowers

Bird pollination in plants is important in many ways which are as follows.

• It transfers pollen from the male anther to the female stigma and helps in fertilization which is essential for plant reproduction.
• It helps in the long-distance dispersal of pollen from one plant to another.
• It helps in geneflow among the plant species.
• Actively contributing to pollination, birds help to maintain the beauty and diversity of floral plants all over the world.

Conclusion – Pollination by Birds

Birds act as pollinators and transfer pollen from one flower to another when they visit flowers to collect nectar. Many beautiful flowers will not develop into fruits without pollination. Thus birds help in the reproduction of plants. They also help in the dispersal and propagation of seeds and maintain species diversity in plants.

FAQs on Pollination by Birds

How do Birds Pollinate Flowers?

Birds pollinate flowers by transferring pollen from one flower to another as they collect nectar. This process is known as cross-pollination, which leads to the fertilization of flowers and the production of seeds.

Why are Flowers Pollinated by Birds?

Flowers are pollinated by birds when birds seek nectar from flowers. As the bird collects the nectar, pollen attaches to its head, neck, and back. When the bird visits other flowers, it transfers the pollen.

What are Some Examples of Bird-Pollinated Flowers?

Bird-pollinated flowers have specialized features to attract the birds. Some examples of bird-pollinated flowers are Verbenas, Bee balm, Honeysuckles, Fuchsias, Hibiscus, Bromeliads, Canna, Strelitzia, Heliconia, Costus, and Cardinal flowers.

What is Pollination by Birds Called?

The pollination by birds is called Ornithophily. It is a process by which birds transfer pollen from one flower to another.

Why Red Flowers are Pollinated by Birds?

In the bird’s visual system, the red color contrasts strongly against most natural backgrounds. Moreover, red is inconspicuous to bees. It prevents bees from depleting the nectar of bird-pollinated flowers.

Which Two Plants are Pollinated by Birds?

Birds pollinate plants like the trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) and the cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) due to their attraction to nectar and bright colors.

What is the Process of Pollination Class 10?

Pollination in Class 10 involves the transfer of pollen from the male reproductive organs to the female reproductive organs of flowers, typically facilitated by wind, water, insects, or other animals.

How do Birds Help in Pollination?

Birds help in pollination by transferring pollen from the male reproductive organs (anthers) of one flower to the female reproductive organs (stigma) of another flower while feeding on nectar. As they move from flower to flower, they carry pollen on their bodies, facilitating fertilization.