Bird‐Flowers: Hovering Versus Perching Exploitation

Usually, bird‐flowers are classified into New World flowers (used by hovering hummingbirds) and Old World species (adapted to perching birds). Since there are many observations which violate this classification the proposal is made to distinguish between blossoms adapted to hovering birds and those providing a well‐defined perch. Characters and examples are given for both groups including the different ways a perch is provided by the plant and the distinct methods of hover‐flight in birds. The diverse adaptive solutions for bird pollination within some taxa are exemplified. To understand bird‐flowers the actual functioning of flowers must be in focus, and not the geographic distribution nor the systematic affiliation of their visitors.