Pollination by birds ~ plant pollination

Ornithophily or bird pollination is the pollination of flowering plants by birds. This co-evolutionary association is derived from insect pollination. The association involves several distinctive plant adaptations forming a “pollination syndrome”. The plants typically have colorful, often red, flowers with long tubular structures holding ample nectar and orientations of the stamen and stigma that ensure contact with the pollinator. Birds involved in ornithophily tend to be specialist nectar with brushy tongues, long bills, capable of hovering flight or are light enough to perch on the

flower structures.

Phaethornis longirostris nectar feeding on Etingera.

Evolutionary shifts to bird pollination have occurred independently in many lineages of flowering plants. This shift affects many floral features, particularly those responsible for the attraction of birds, deterrence of illegitimate flower visitors (particularly bees), protection from vigorous foraging by birds, and accurate placement of pollen on bird's bodies.

Pollination, whereby pollen grains (male) are transferred to the ovule (female) of a plant, is an irreplaceable step in the reproduction of seed plants.