Birds and the Broad-leafed Firethorn of Taiwan

Broad-leafed Firethorn (Pyracantha crenatoserrata (Syn. P. fortuneana) is a thorny evergreen shrub with white flowers and bright red fruits.

It is popularly grown as an ornamental because of the attractive red fruits. These fruits are mildly poisonous as the seeds contain cyanogenic glycoside.

Birds flock to feed on the fruits, thereby helping to disperse the plant.

These birds, photographed by Taiwan bird guide Dai Yang, include Plumbeous Water-redstart (Rhyacornis fuliginosa), Taiwan Liocichla (Liocichla steerii), Taiwan Barwing (Actinodura morrisoniana) and Taiwan Yuhina (Yuhina brunneiceps).

Dai Yang
Taiwan
27th October 2016

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.