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Key plants used by Australian birds:
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| Birds using plants | Plants using birds | |
| It is easy to see that birds use a variety of plants. There are various ways in which they do this. We have prepared a short summary of how birds use plants. | Conversely, many native Australian plants use birds. For example, they can use birds (in addition to, or rather than, insects), in particular nectar-eating species, as pollinators, as described below, or - primarily fruit eaters - as seed distributors. |
In nature, plants using birds is serious business, because the survival of some species may depend on pollenation by birds. For humans, this can lead to the detection of some funny-looking birds. A few examples are shown here.
Grevilleas
All plants known to us of the genus Grevillea offer nectar in exchange for the favour of being pollenated. The most prolific producer of nectar is the Grevillea robusta, a tree that attracts even birds that are not traditional nectarivores (such as e.g. Pied Currawongs or Australian Ravens).
Little Friarbird
with pollen on its bill and frons (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
Immature
Blue-faced Honeyeater
with some pollen on its frons
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
Immature
Blue-faced Honeyeater
all messed up with pollen
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
Another example of a
Blue-faced Honeyeater
with pollen on its head
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
Adult
Blue-faced Honeyeater,
top, and immature with pollen on its head feasting in a
grevillea
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
Callistemons
Plants in the genus Callistemon (bottlebrushes), which often stand in, or along, creek beds, are a major source of nectar, even in dry times or in the Australian winter. They can flower when many other plants don't.
Close-up frontal view of a Noisy Friarbird with
pollen
all over its bill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]
Close-up near-lateral portrait of a male
Musk Lorikeet
with pollen all over its forehead
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Narrabri, NSW, October 2020]
White-eared Honeyeater
with pollen all around the base of its bill
Close-up lateral view of a
Little Friarbird
taking nectar from a
bottlebrush,
with pollen stuck to the front of its head
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2022]
Other/unknown plants
Red-collared Lorikeet
taking nectar and in the process pollenating the flowers
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, October 2019]
Adult
Blue-faced Honeyeater
with some pollen on its frons
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
Little Wattlebird with
pollen on its bill (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
Frontal view of an Helmeted Friarbird with pollen stuck
to its bill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
Olive-backed Sunbird
with some pollen on the tip of its bill (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
Eastern Spinebill with pollen on its bill and frons (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
Eastern Spinebill with pollen on its bill and frons (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
Frontal view of a Bar-breasted Honeyeater with pollen stuck to its frons (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
Near-frontal view of a male Crescent Honeyeater taking nectar
from a flower and in the process getting pollen all over its
face (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
Introduced species: Calliandra haematocephala
Dusky Honeyeater
with pollen all over its bill, head and breast
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
Macleay's Honeyeater
with pollen all over its bill and forehead
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
Macleay's Honeyeater
with pollen all over its bill and forehead
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
Unknown plant species
Striped Honeyeater
with pollen stuck to its chin
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eulo Bore, Eulo, QLD, June 2022]
Two White-winged Trillers
with their caps covered in pollen; this species is not known to be
nectarivore, so they may have been hunting for insects in flowers
when picking up the pollen
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Oolloo Road, Daly River region, NT, August 2021]
