Bird predation of pod borers of field beans (Lablab niger) was determined in Bangalore. The house crowCorvus splendensappeared the most important predator and its feeding rate (4 ± 0·2 larvae/min) and numbers (>200/Km2) at the study sites were higher than other insectivorous birds. Multiple cropping patterns promoted higher predation rates than pure stands ofL. niger.Seed‐yield loss in field beans was negatively correlated with the index of species richness. Seed yields in the site with the highest species index were almost 39% greater than those in the site with the least number of bird species.