Comparative behavioural responses of silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) and European blackbirds (Turdus merula) to secondary metabolites in grapes

Secondary metabolites in fruit are compounds that are not directly associated with plant growth; some are directly related to plant reproductive processes, specifically seed protection and dispersion. There is a complex and species-specific interaction between these plant compounds and their avian seed dispersers. To determine whether two important secondary metabolites in wine grapes – tannins and colour pigments – might be important cues to two of the avian species that forage on wine grapes, and how species-specific this interaction might be, comparative field experiments were run with Australasian silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) and European blackbirds (Turdus merula). Both species were offered a glucose/fructose artificial nectar with increasing concentrations of grape tannins. In a second experiment, they were offered both green and purple artificial grapes where only the colour differed. Both species showed aversion to tannins; silvereyes appeared to have greater tolerance than blackbirds of tannin concentrations above 5%. In summer no preference was shown between green and purple coloured artificial grapes, but in late autumn blackbirds took only purple grapes whereas silvereyes pecked mostly at green. Links between tannin for seed protection and colour signals to birds are discussed. Colour may cue the two species to different species-specific aspects of fruit nutritive value.