What is "ornithophily"

n. pollination by birds

Ornithophily or bird pollination is the pollination of flowering plants by birds. This coevolutionary association is derived from insect pollination ( entomophily) and is particularly well developed in some parts of the world, especially in the tropics and on some island chains. The association involves several distinctive plant adaptations forming a " pollination syndrome". The plants typically have colourful, often red, flowers with long tubular structures holding ample nectar and orientations of the stamen and stigma that ensure contact with the pollinator. Birds involved in ornithophily tend to be specialist nectarivores with brushy tongues, long bills, capable of hovering flight or are light enough to perch on the flower structures.