What plants do birds feed on?

The diverse birdlife in Udawalawe leans heavily on fruit, nectar and seeds brought by the park’s native dry-zone plants, almost like they are the real engine behind things. Ficus trees, the figs in particular, are a total magnet for frugivorous birds, yes, the fruit-eating types like hornbills and barbets.

Flowering shrubs end up giving steady nectar for sunbirds, and the tall grasses in the open plains drop seeds that keep massive flocks going, especially ground-feeding birds like munias and doves. There’s also this quiet but intricate link between the fruiting seasons of the trees and how bird numbers shift, and because of that, the whole ecosystem stays lively.