Luce Sam’s images of a Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) eating a Bauhinia flower (above, below) brings to mind Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS’s earlier post on “Why do birds eat flowers?”
The simplest answer is to get at the nectar. However, there are many other reasons, mostly speculative, like obtaining trace elements, vitamins, antoxidants, antimicrobial, etc.
Earlier posts on members of the family Psittacidae (parrots) eating flowers include: Blue-crowned Hanging-parrot (Loriculus galgulus); Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis); Red-shouldered Macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis) and Long-tailed Parakeet (Psittacula longicauda).
Luce Sam
Singapore
25th February 2019
This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behaviour through photography and videography to a wider audience.