“I have alluded to the Yellow-Vented Bulbuls (Pycnonotus goiavier analis) large diet. On this occasion I spotted an adult feeding on this flower (Clitoria sp.). It took pains to shake off the petals before feeding on the central structure.”
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
(Fringe of primary forest with secondary growth)
9th July 2011
Note: Birds eating flowers is more common than thought. They may possibly eat them for the nectar they contain: see HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.
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Had no idea birds ate flowers. The nectar theory is plausible.
1. Generally agree with you about nectar but here it ate the central structure of the flower.
2. Have seen the adults feed flowers to the juveniles. One example here: http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?Bird_ID=1685&Bird_Image_ID=62013&p=5
3. In my garden I have seen adult YV Bulbuls collect up to 20 heads of the yellow Arachis pintoi (Pinto peanut) flowers to feed to juveniles.
Amar
See also: http://www.besgroup.org/2012/06/29/yellow-vented-bulbul-%E2%80%93-feeding-on-orchid-flowers/
Birds taking nectar is not just a theory but it is a fact. There are many posts in this blog about the behaviour.
The YVBB appears to take the flowers of Brown Heart too. See 50″ to 1″ 10″ of the video in: http://www.besgroup.org/2012/08/03/black-naped-orioles-50-different-calls/