INTRODUCTION
<p>The blooming of several species coincides with the breeding season of many birds. Plants developed showy, brightly coloured petals, and flower structures, more conducive to nectar-feeding birds. Even the composition of nectar – higher sugar content and volume – is designed to attract birds. Studies show that increasing the red pigment in certain floral species, makes them less desirable to bees and more to birds. It looks like we should be thanking our feathered friends for the riotous colours of our gardens.<br />
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<p>A male Purple-rumped Sunbird <em>Leptocoma zeylonica</em>, its wings akimbo, hovers over flowers to sip nectar in Gampaha, Sri Lanka. Sunbirds of the Nectariniidae family have evolved long tongues to lap up nectar. This makes them partial to tubular-structured flowers, while the latter have evolved bright red colours to attract birds.</p>
<p><strong>Photo:</strong> Deveni Gamage Nishantha Manjula.</p>
