Calothamnus quadrifidus Red flowers in our wheatbelt come in a range of shapes and sizes, but they are nearly all pollinated by birds. Some red flowers also pollinated by marsupials such as the honey possum, but this fascinating article describes how the colour red looks more vivid to birds than to mammals and marsupials.
Worldwide indicators of a bird-pollinated plant are
• Bright red, white, (which most insects can’t see well) or yellow flowers.
•Tube-shaped flowers with abundant nectar at the base, and adjoining stamens and pistil projecting about 3 to 5cm out from the nectar source.
• Sturdy flowers that can support birds
• Little or no aroma, but lots of dilute nectar
Here are local examples of tube shaped flowers from a range of genera.
Worldwide indicators of a bird-pollinated plant are
• Bright red, white, (which most insects can’t see well) or yellow flowers.
•Tube-shaped flowers with abundant nectar at the base, and adjoining stamens and pistil projecting about 3 to 5cm out from the nectar source.
• Sturdy flowers that can support birds
• Little or no aroma, but lots of dilute nectar
Here are local examples of tube shaped flowers from a range of genera.
 Anigozanthus humilis Catspaw |  Anthers and stigma at the tube entrance |
 Chloanthes coccinea |  Spinebill pollinated Utricularia menziesii Redcaps |
Most bird-pollinated flowers are large, but there are exceptions like these red astrolomas (now Styphelia species) that provide nectar to very small honeyeaters like the Brown Honeyeater, and the Western Spinebill. Note the hairy flower entrance, which is designed to discourage nectar-stealing insects like ants. White-flowered members are often pollinated by insects like butterflies and moths that have with long feeding tubes.
 Styphelia discolor Candle Cranberry |  Styphelia compacta |
Amyema miquelli Stalked Mistletoe Bird pollination is particularly important in this area because there are so many flowering species, and which are often in specific locations or soil types. For example Eucalyptus caesia mallees occurs on separate granite outcrops. Birds suit these plants because they can carry pollen further, particularly after large bushfires.
Millions of years of relative stability have allowed the evolution from bee to bird-pollinated flowers. The process has led to variations from the applying to bird pollination in other parts of the world.
Bird-pollinated flowers here can have a range of shapes, be scented, and be located close to the ground. Genera such as Eucalyptus, Banksia, Hakea, and Grevillea may be pollinated by more than one animal as well as insects.
Grevillea and Hakea flowers have superbly adapted long and curling styles, which deliver and accept pollen (using secondary plant pollination) on specific points of a honeyeater's head or beak. Some are highly scented which suggests alternative pollinators. A good example is beetle-pollinated Grevillea eryngioides at Harrismith Nature Reserve.
Millions of years of relative stability have allowed the evolution from bee to bird-pollinated flowers. The process has led to variations from the applying to bird pollination in other parts of the world.
Bird-pollinated flowers here can have a range of shapes, be scented, and be located close to the ground. Genera such as Eucalyptus, Banksia, Hakea, and Grevillea may be pollinated by more than one animal as well as insects.
Grevillea and Hakea flowers have superbly adapted long and curling styles, which deliver and accept pollen (using secondary plant pollination) on specific points of a honeyeater's head or beak. Some are highly scented which suggests alternative pollinators. A good example is beetle-pollinated Grevillea eryngioides at Harrismith Nature Reserve.
 Grevillea cagiana Harrismith |  Grevillea eryngioides Harrismith |
Insect pollinators become more important with smaller Grevillea/Hakea flowers. Plants are often very spiny,and flowers are strongly scented. A good example is Hakea lissocarpha which has profuse groups of flowers with short straight styles and a strong almost cloying aroma. In this Foxypress I describe the variety of insects and a honeyeater I observed on a plant one July.
Bird pollination is most common in WA in brush-shaped flowers such as bottlebrushes and Calothamnus, which coat a bird with pollen when it lands and feeds, and bowl-shaped eucalypt flowers.
Bird pollination is most common in WA in brush-shaped flowers such as bottlebrushes and Calothamnus, which coat a bird with pollen when it lands and feeds, and bowl-shaped eucalypt flowers.
 Kunzea Baxterii on granite outcrop |  Callistemon phoenecius |
Purple-crowned Lorikeet Most eucalypts are pollinated by birds, but the bowl shaped base provides access to a range of pollinators.The Purple Crowned Lorikeet uses its brush-tipped tongue to gather nectar from massed bunches of eucalypt flowers. Unfortunately I infrequently see them in our bush, and hope that the introduced Rainbow Lorikeet doesn't establish here. Honeyeaters and Western Silvereye are very common.
Note. Australian plants evolved in the absence of introduced European Honeybee which have advantages that enable them to strongly compete with native insects, birds and animals.They are a communal species fostered by humans, operate continuously, and are larger than most native bees. The damn things are everywhere!
A walk through the Narrogin Arboretum reveals a range of eucalypt flower adaptations, which have evolved to favour birds. Many flowers have white or yellow stigma and stamens, but the bud caps and flower cups are often red. Several red-flowering species also have white-flowering variants..
Note. Australian plants evolved in the absence of introduced European Honeybee which have advantages that enable them to strongly compete with native insects, birds and animals.They are a communal species fostered by humans, operate continuously, and are larger than most native bees. The damn things are everywhere!
A walk through the Narrogin Arboretum reveals a range of eucalypt flower adaptations, which have evolved to favour birds. Many flowers have white or yellow stigma and stamens, but the bud caps and flower cups are often red. Several red-flowering species also have white-flowering variants..
 Peg 159 Eucalyptus platypus Swamp mallet |  Peg 139 Eucalyptus erythronema Red Flowering Mallee |
Other adaptations are drooping flowers, crowded stamens, and ball shaped flower clusters, which favour bird access rather than insects.
 Peg 53 Eucalyptus macrocarpa Mottlecah. Largest eucalypt flower. |  Peg 184 Eucalyptus stoateii Pear Fruited Mallee. Dense outer stamens. |  Peg 205 Eucalyptus pyriformis Dowerin Mallee. Large drooping flowers. |
Other genera have only a few bird pollinated members such as the large-flowered fire ephemeral Kennedia Prostrata, which germinates profusely after fire then dies back to a few plants after 5 years or so. Bright red blooms against black ash attract birds which can fly the distance into large burnt areas.
 Carpet of flowering Kennedia prostrata two years after a bushfire |  Kennedia prostrata Running Postman |
The small Red Leschenaultia flower doesn't look typical for bird pollination, unlike the uncommon Lechenaultia tubiflora. Most other species use insects.
 Lechenaultia formosa Red Leschenaultia |  Lechenaultia tubiflora |
Exceptions?
There are a few that may cause confusion.
Drosera menziesii Pink Rainbow can have bright red flowers, but they are mostly pink to shiny magenta colours, which are highly UV reflective colours for insects.
There are a few that may cause confusion.
Drosera menziesii Pink Rainbow can have bright red flowers, but they are mostly pink to shiny magenta colours, which are highly UV reflective colours for insects.
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Ptilotus mangesii Pom Poms, and Ptilotus declinatus Curved Mullah Mullah. There are also magenta Pom Pom versions that are very UV reflective, and they flower late in the season often against a yellow or brown background which insects see better.
 Ptilotus declinatus Curved Mullah Mullah |  Ptilotus mangesii Pom Poms |