Fauna
Plant

Bird's-foot Trefoil

Lotus corniculatus

Also known as Common Bird's-Foot Trefoil, Eggs and Bacon, Birdsfoot Deervetch

Bright yellow clusters of pea-like blossoms streaked with orange give bird's-foot trefoil its cheerful appearance and traditional nickname, eggs and bacon. Its common name describes the dark, radiating seed pods that resemble a tiny bird's foot clinging to the stem. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, this plant enriches surrounding soil while providing vital nectar for wild pollinators and host foliage for butterfly caterpillars.

FloweringNitrogen FixerWildflower
Bird's-foot Trefoil reference1 / 7
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Atmospheric nitrogen
Predators
  • Grazing livestock
  • Common blue butterfly caterpillars
  • Snails and slugs
ThreatsHerbicide application and aggressive mowing schedules
HabitatsGrasslands, pastures, roadsides, lawns, meadows
Life span3–5 years
Classification
  1. OrderFabales
  2. FamilyFabaceae
  3. GenusLotus
  4. SpeciesLotus corniculatus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Look for Seed Pods: Examine mature plants in late summer to spot the radiating pod clusters that inspired the name.
  • Check for Caterpillars: Search the foliage carefully for green common blue butterfly larvae feeding on leaves.
  • Observe Pollinators: Watch open flower heads on sunny days to see native bumblebees triggering the pollination mechanism.
Related species
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