How Can Birds Eat Super-Hot Peppers?

Their unique taste receptors and lack of teeth allow them to chow down on peppers that would make humans wince in pain.

Birds are immune to hot peppers on a molecular and evolutionary level. They cannot sense spiciness because their capsaicin receptor (TRPV1) is not sensitive to capsaicin, and birds have evolved without the need for teeth, which mammals use to grind down seeds, releasing their heat.

Peppers are a recommended part of a bird’s diet. This might make you wonder how birds can eat the hottest pepper when it would cause you so much pain. How can the bird not react to the spiciest peppers when you break out in sweat anytime you eat a chili pepper? Read on to find out why birds are immune to the spiciness of peppers and how that is beneficial both to the birds and the peppers they eat.

The Scientific Reason Why Birds Aren't Affected By Hot Peppers

The way most mammals are affected by spiciness is because of how their capsaicin receptors act, which is why birds’ capsaicin receptors are the main reason why they are not negatively affected by capsaicin. The spiciness is not a flavor. Capsaicin itself has no smell or taste. What some people may describe as a spicy flavor is their capsaicin receptors sending pain signals to their brain. When capsaicin interacts with the receptors in mammals, they will send chemical signals to the brain, signifying pain. The receptors in birds do not react this way.

Birds have evolved with no teeth, which makes them a perfect candidate for feeding. Plants often develop alongside the species that eat them. The plants that thrive the best throughout evolution do so by having the best reproduction systems. Peppers evolved to be eaten by birds, who possess no teeth. Because of this, the hot peppers can spread through their seeds, being passed whole through a bird’s digestive system.

Through both a molecular and an evolutionary method, birds’ immunity to hot peppers has benefited both plants and animals. The close relationship between birds and peppers has allowed them to thrive. The spicy peppers can spread far and wide. The birds can eat as many peppers as they want without any heartburn!

Benefits of Birds’ Immunity to Capsaicin

The fact that birds are not affected by hot peppers the way other species are is beneficial to peppers and birds. The evolution of birds isn’t the only evolution that allows this healthy symbiotic relationship. Hot peppers have also evolved to be easily eaten by birds instead of other animals.

Plenty of mammals will eat sweet and mild peppers regularly, but due to their regular capsaicin receptors, they will steer clear of the hottest peppers. This leaves plenty for the birds. After eating these peppers, birds will travel quite far and pass the seeds to new areas. Because of this behavior, hot peppers have evolved to be spread and grow in abundance without losing seeds to mammals’ digestive systems.

Birds have also been benefiting from this relationship for a long time. Hot peppers are very healthy for a bird’s diet. Hot peppers have been shown to help with immunity and contain antioxidants. Spicy peppers are also high in vitamin A. For birds, this means healthier, more vibrant feathers.

Better for Birds and the World

Birds have been proven to be immune to capsaicin. This allows birds to reap all the nutritional benefits of peppers. Also, the seeds pass through their digestion and can grow new plants wherever the birds go.