Birds (Aves) as fig eaters

The African Green Pigeon (Treron calvus) is found from Senegal to east Africa, extending south to southern Africa, where it is fairly common in a wide variety of habitats. It mainly eats fruit, as well as very small quantities of seeds. Photograph © Duncan Butchart.

African Green Pigeon feeding on figs of Ficus sycomorus in South Africa. Photograph © Duncan Butchart.

African Green Pigeon feeding on Ficus burkei. Photograph © Tony Faria.

African Green Pigeon feeding on Ficus natalensis near Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi strip, Namibia (December 2016). Photograph © Otto Schmidt (Cape Town).

Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus) feeding at ripe figs of Ficus abutilifolia (South Africa, Kruger National Park, Mopani Camp). Photographs © Alan Manson (Pietermaritzburg).  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/35199346

Schalow's Turaco feeding on Ficus natalensis near Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi strip, Namibia (December 2016). Photograph © Otto Schmidt (Cape Town).

Violet-backed Starling feeding on Ficus natalensis near Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi strip, Namibia (December 2016). Photograph © Otto Schmidt (Cape Town).

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird feeding on Ficus natalensis near Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi strip, Namibia (December 2016). Photograph © Otto Schmidt (Cape Town).

Black collared Barbet, Umtentweni, Kwazulu-Natal, August 2020, feeding on Ficus sycomorus, BT0T3562 (Photograph © Graham McGill).

White eared Barbet, Umtentweni, Kwazulu-Natal, August 2020, feeding on Ficus sycomorus, BT0T3592 (Photograph © Graham McGill).

Dark capped Bulbul, Umtentweni, Kwazulu-Natal, August 2020, feeding on Ficus sycomorus, BT0T3539 (Photograph © Graham McGill).

Green Pigeon, Skukuza, Kruger National Park, April, feeding on Ficus sycomorus, BT0T6407 (Photograph © Graham McGill).

Knysna Turaco, Umtentweni, Kwazulu-Natal, November, feeding on Ficus sycomorus, BT0T3562 (Photograph © Graham McGill).

Dark backed Weaver, Umtentweni, Kwazulu-Natal, November, feeding on beetle larvae (Curculionidae) developing inside figs of Ficus sycomorus (Photograph © Graham McGill).

Dark backed Weaver, Umtentweni, Kwazulu-Natal, November, feeding on beetle larvae (Curculionidae) developing inside figs of Ficus sycomorus (Photograph © Graham McGill).

Dark backed Weaver, Umtentweni, Kwazulu-Natal, November, feeding on beetle larvae (Curculionidae) developing inside figs of Ficus sycomorus (Photograph © Graham McGill).

Dark backed Weaver, Umtentweni, Kwazulu-Natal, November, feeding on beetle larvae (Curculionidae) developing inside figs of Ficus sycomorus (Photograph © Graham McGill).

Dark backed Weaver, Umtentweni, Kwazulu-Natal, November, feeding on beetle larvae (Curculionidae) developing inside figs of Ficus sycomorus (Photograph © Graham McGill).

Credits

Photographs © Duncan Butchart or © Tony Faria, or © Alan Manson (Pietermaritzburg), or © Otto Schmidt (Cape Town), or © Graham McGill.