Floral titbits: petals of Acca sellowiana (Myrtaceae) as a food source for birds in an urban area in Southern Brazil

Abstract

The feijoa (Acca sellowiana, Myrtaceae) is one of the few plant species whose petals are habitually eaten by birds in the Neotropics. We record here the use of petals of this myrtaceous plant by nine species of passerine birds of an isolated plant in the urban area of Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Highest visiting frequency was recorded for tanagers (Thraupidae), a predominantly frugivorous bird group. The birds took the petals within their mandibles and tore or cut pieces off. Thraupis sayaca and Tangara preciosa were recorded collecting several petal pieces with their mandibles, the first species being observed twice feeding petals to nestlings. Due to its medium size and the showy flowers, as well as to its attractiveness to several bird species even in an urbane area, we reiterate here the recommendation to use A. sellowiana in parks and gardens in southern and southeastern Brazil.