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With their excellent sense of smell, pigs are renowned for sniffing out truffles, a fungus

that grows underground and is prized for its taste.

But it turns out that some bird species can also find their way to a truffle treat.

Researchers working in the Patagonia region of Chile had noticed truffles with little,

big-sized bite marks, and even watched a bird eat a truffle.

The researchers examined the droppings of two common birds, the Chical, Tapaculo, and

the black-throated wet wet.

They found truffle DNA in many of the samples, suggesting that truffles are a staple of the

bird's diet.

The findings suggest that birds, not just mammals, often eat truffles.

Some of the fungi species eaten by the Patagonian birds look like berries that grow locally,

which might help birds see them better.

After all, the truffles benefit from birds eating them.

The birds spread the fungal spores in their droppings, helping the fungi reach new areas.

Birds haven't yet won a reputation as prized truffle hunters, but maybe someday.

For bird note, I'm Ariana Remmel.

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