Do Snakes Eat Birds? 15+ Bird Types Eating Snakes

Short answer: whichever bird is the easiest to catch!

Long answer: Snakes will eat just about any bird, but be careful to specifically choose the most vulnerable and least threatening birds. While some snakes may prey on smaller adult birds, they most often prey on nests containing chicks and eggs, which are easier meals.

While many snakes climb trees to reach bird nests, they will also happily hunt ground-nesting birds such as ducks and chickens. If you have these types of birds as pets or livestock, be sure to take steps to protect them from predators.

There are larger birds of prey that snakes don’t chase, such as owls, hawks and eagles, because these birds hunt and eat snakes. However, this only applies to adult birds: Snakes will continue to prey on their chicks and eggs like any other bird species if the parents aren’t around to repel them.

Do Snakes Eat Birds?

Yes, snakes eat birds. Snakes actively hunt birds and do so in many different ways.

One method, as mentioned above, is to hide in tall grass or vegetation or in structures such as woodpiles to monitor the birds’ movements during the day to locate nests and then attack the nest at night.

Another method used by species such as the Antigua runner is to hide in leaves on the ground. The snake will stay there until a bird passes by, at which point it will dash out and ambush the bird.

Many snakes track their prey by smell and visual cues, but some species such as the North Pacific rattlesnake locate prey by sensing body heat.

One method used by the spider-tailed horned viper of Iran is to wag its tail to attract birds. eat an insect, only to be eaten themselves.

Learn more: Do snake eat fish?

Snakes that Eat Birds

Various snake species around the world include birds in their diets, often adapting to their local environments to do so. In North America, examples include the bullsnake, the Antiguan racer, the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, black racer snakes, speckled kingsnakes, and coachwhip snakes. These snakes use diverse hunting techniques, from constricting their prey to ambushing or sensing body heat.

In Africa, twig snakes and olive house snakes are known to consume birds, while South America boasts the golden lancehead and the green anaconda as bird-eaters. Asia, home to the Burmese python, king cobra, and Shedao pit vipers, also hosts a variety of bird-eating snakes. Europe has the Aesculapian snake, and in Australia, the brown tree snake is a known bird predator. Each of these snakes uses unique methods and strategies to hunt and kill birds, shaped by the ecological niches they inhabit.

Here are some examples of bird-eating snakes classified by location.

North America:

• Bullsnake (constrictors, found in the western United States and northern Mexico)
• Antigua runner (ambush hunter, non venomous, found on Great Bird Island in the Caribbean)
• North Pacific rattlesnake (venomous, found in western North America)
• Black runner snakes (found in the eastern United States and Central America)
• Spotted kingsnakes (non-venomous, found in the central and southern US)
• Coachwhip snakes (non-venomous, found in the southern US)

Africa:

• Twig snakes (also known as vine or bird snakes, venomous, found in southern Africa)
• Olive snake (also known as black house snake, non-venomous, found in southern Africa)

South America:

• Golden spearhead (poisonous, endangered, found only in São Paulo, Brazil)
• Green anaconda (also known as giant anaconda, constrictor, found in many rainforest areas such as the Amazon and Orinoco basins)

Asia:

• Burmese python (constrictors, found in Southeast Asia)
• King cobra (venomous, found in South and Southeast Asia)
• Shedao pit vipers (venomous, found in northeastern China)

Europe:

• Aesculapius snake (constrictors, found in several countries)

Australia:

• Brown tree snake (aka brown cat snake, venomous, also found in Guam, Australia, Indonesia, Papa New Guinea, and Melanesia)

Read more: Do snakes come out at night?

Birds as Prey: Which Birds Do Snakes Eat?

Snakes aren’t picky eaters and will consume whatever prey is most accessible and easiest to capture. While some snakes can prey on smaller adult birds, they most often target nests containing vulnerable chicks and eggs. These are easier meals, as they’re stationary, undefended, and cannot fly away.

In addition to hunting birds nesting in trees, snakes will also prey on ground-nesting birds like ducks and chickens. This could potentially pose a threat if you own these kinds of birds as pets or livestock. Ensuring that they are well-protected becomes paramount to prevent them from falling prey to snake attacks.

How Snakes Kill Birds?

Once a snake has caught a bird, how does it kill its prey? Snakes employ different methods depending on the species.

Species

Constrictor Species

Constrictor species, such as the bullsnake and the Aesculapian snake, kill their prey through constriction. These snakes wrap their powerful, muscled bodies around the bird, squeezing it and disrupting its breathing until it suffocates. This method is highly effective, allowing the snake to subdue its prey without risking injury from a struggle.

Venomous Species

Venomous species, like the twig snake and the brown tree snake, use a different strategy. They inject their prey with potent venom when they bite, which serves to immobilize or instantly kill their prey. Regardless of the method, snakes do not chew their food. The bird, whether dead or alive, will ultimately be swallowed whole.

Methods

Hunting Through Ambush

One common hunting strategy among snakes is ambushing their prey. They hide in tall grasses, vegetation, or structures like woodpiles, closely monitoring bird movements during the day. They use this information to locate nests, which they then attack during the night. A snake might also hide among leaves on the ground, remaining perfectly still until a bird passes by. At this point, the snake darts out, catching the bird by surprise.

Hunting By Sensing Body Heat

Many snakes track their prey using scent and visual cues. However, some species, like the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, have developed an extraordinary method of locating their prey by sensing body heat. This ability allows them to detect the warmth of a bird’s body, even in low light conditions, leading them directly to their next meal.

Unique Hunting Techniques

Some snake species employ unique hunting methods that are truly fascinating. One such example is the spider-tailed horned viper found in Iran. This snake uses its tail, which bears a striking resemblance to a spider due to its leglike barbs and a bulb on its end, to lure in birds. Birds, thinking they’re about to snack on an insect, approach the tail, only to find themselves becoming the meal.

How can you stop snakes from eating birds?

If you own birds or just enjoy looking out the window at the birds that visit your garden, you probably want to prevent them from ending up in the mouth of a hungry snake. While you can’t change a snake’s natural inclinations (it has to eat something, after all), there are non-lethal ways to drive them away.

If you find snakeskin, droppings, or tracks around your home, some preventative methods include:

• Mow the grass regularly and move any structures/debris that may be hiding a snake around where birds nest so snakes will have nowhere to hide and monitor bird activity throughout the day
• Don’t leave food that attracts mice – if mice come, snakes may follow you
• Likewise, don’t overwater your garden – the worms and frogs it attracts can also carry snakes
• Mount your nest boxes on a narrow, smooth metal post
• Put grease or stovepipe protector on the nest post

Snake repellent plants Sticky traps and other chemicals are ineffective and can harm your pets or other wildlife in your yard.

Conclusion: Do Snakes Eat Birds?

In conclusion, the question of whether snakes eat birds has led us on a thrilling exploration of the fascinating world of serpents and their diverse feeding habits. Through our journey, we have discovered that while not all snake species consume birds, many do possess the capability to capture and devour avian prey. Their specialized hunting techniques, such as stealthy ambushes and lightning-fast strikes, make them formidable predators in the animal kingdom. If you’re eager to delve deeper into the captivating world of venomous snakes and their hunting prowess, we invite you to read more on the Venomous Snake blog. Expand your knowledge of these mesmerizing creatures and uncover the secrets of their remarkable feeding behaviors.