Herbivorous Birds

Only 2-3% of extant bird species are primarily herbivorous. They are nonetheless incredibly diverse, including essential pollinators and seed dispersers. On islands with few or no mammals, herbivorous birds frequently evolved to large sizes and assumed niches typically held by mammals. However, even birds that are primarily herbivorous as adults will often feed their young a far more insectivorous diet.

To feed on plants, birds have specialized beaks that let them tear and process plant matter, microbes in their gut to break down the complex carbohydrates in vegetation, and a tongue that adapts to the shape of the beak.

Different Types of Herbivorous Birds

Herbivorous birds can be broadly classified into the following categories based on what they eat. As plant matter comes in a wide variety, the feeding habits of these birds change based on their diets. It is also important to note that while these birds may have a preferred form of food, they will occasionally eat other plant matter if it is available.

Frugivores

These birds primarily feed on fruits and are integral in the reproductive process of the plants whose fruits they consume, helping in seed dispersal.

American Robin
Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Bay-headed Tanager
Black-collared Barbet
Black-sided Flowerpecker
Blaze-winged Parakeet
Blue Cotinga
Blue-crowned Parakeet
Blue Dacnis
Blue-naped Chlorophonia
Blue-necked Tanager
Blue-winged Mountain Tanager
Bohemian Waxwing
Brassy-breasted Tanager
California Thrasher
Chestnut-eared Aracari
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Collared Aracari
Comoro Blue Pigeon
Cordilleran Flycatcher
Crimson-rumped Toucanet
Fawn-breasted Tanager
Flavescent Bulbul
Fulvous-vented Euphonia
Gila Woodpecker
Golden-headed Quetzal
Golden-naped Barbet
Hispaniolan Woodpecker
Horned Lark
Island Thrush
Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher
Masked Flowerpiercer
Monk Parakeet
Oilbird
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
Oriental Pied Hornbill
Palawan Hornbill
Palmchat
Palm-nut Vulture
Pine Grosbeak
Red-headed Barbet
Resplendent Quetzal
Rhinoceros Hornbill
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Scaly-breasted Bulbul
Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Southern Cassowary
Spangle-cheeked Tanager
Spot-billed Toucanet
Spotted Towhee
Streak-eared Bulbul
Thick-billed Green Pigeon
Toco Toucan
Toucan Barbet
Tropical Boubou
Varied Thrush
Von Der Decken’s Hornbill
White-crowned Pigeon
White-throated Sparrow
Wrentit
Yellow-billed Cotinga
Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker
Yellow-winged Cacique

Granivores

These birds feed on grains and seeds. While some birds prefer seeds over grains, the birds in this category have similar feeding adaptations, like hard beaks and gizzards, and have similar digestive systems.

American Goldfinch
American Tree Sparrow
Black-capped Chickadee
Black-faced Waxbill
Clark’s Nutcracker
Common Quail
Common Redpoll
Evening Grosbeak
Gouldian Finch
House Finch
Hyacinth Macaw
Large Ground-finch
Medium Ground-finch
Orange-breasted Bunting
Pine Siskin
Plain-colored Seedeater
Pygmy Nuthatch
Red-winged Blackbird
Reed Bunting
Snow Bunting
Snow Goose
Stubble Quail
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-winged Crossbill
Yellow-faced Grassquit

Sapsuckers

Some birds feed on the sap inside trees, which is a source of minerals, water, and sugars.

Red-naped Sapsucker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Williamson’s Sapsucker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Nectarivores

Birds with specialized beaks feed on the nectar found in flowers. They help in dispersing pollen as the particles stick to the birds when they transfer to a different plant.

Bananaquit
Beautiful Sunbird
Bee Hummingbird
Black-and-red Myzomela
Black-bellied Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-throated Flowerpiercer
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Buff-tailed Sicklebill
Costa’s Hummingbird
Curve-billed Thrasher
Eastern Olive Sunbird
Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird
Giant Hummingbird
Hachisuka’s Sunbird
Hooded Oriole
Hunter’s Sunbird
Large Cactus-finch
Little Spiderhunter
Masked Flowerpiercer
Mountain Black-eye
Nepal Sunbird
Orange-crowned Warbler
Purple-throated Sunbird
Rainbow Starfrontlet
Red-tailed Comet
Red-throated Sunbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Slaty Flowerpiercer
Streaked Spiderhunter
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Tennessee Warbler
Velvet-purple Coronet
Violet Sabrewing
Violet-bellied Hummingbird
Violet-tailed Sylph
White-winged Dove
Woodpecker Finch

Folivores

These birds primarily feed on the leaves of the plants. They can do so thanks to having a digestive system similar to that of ruminating animals like cows.