Do Birds Eat Other Birds?

Birds eat a huge range of foods, including fruit, seeds, nectar, insects, worms, fish, rodents and other small animals. But do some birds eat other birds?

Do birds eat other birds? Yes. Many birds of prey hunt other birds, and some specialize in them. Peregrine falcons and Cooper's hawks feed mainly on birds. Owls, eagles, harriers and caracaras take birds as part of a broader diet, and jays and crows often raid nests for eggs and chicks.

Below, we look at 10 groups of birds that eat other birds and how big a part of their diet birds really are.

10 Bird Species That Eat Other Birds

These bird groups are known to kill or eat other birds:

Eagles
Ospreys
Kites
Hawks
Buzzards
Harriers
Vultures
Falcons
Caracaras
Owls

Eagles

eagles eat other birds

Eagles are large birds of prey with broad wings, powerful feet, sharp talons and heavy hooked beaks for tearing meat. There are dozens of eagle species around the world, most of them in Africa and Asia. The bald eagle is the best known eagle in North America.

Eagles belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes hawks, kites, harriers and Old World vultures.

What eagles eat depends on the species. The National Audubon Society says the bald eagle eats mostly fish when it can get them. When fish are scarce, it also feeds on birds such as ducks and coots, plus mammals and carrion.

Ospreys

ospreys eat other birds

Ospreys live on every continent except Antarctica. They are fish specialists and build large stick nests, which is why they are often called fish hawks.

Ospreys have slender bodies, long, narrow wings and long legs. In flight, their wings show a distinct bend at the wrist, giving them an "M" shape from below. Adults are dark brown above and mostly white below.

Many ospreys migrate long distances each year. Northern populations travel to Central and South America or Africa for the winter.

Audubon says the osprey's diet is almost entirely fish. It only rarely eats small mammals, birds or reptiles, perhaps mainly when fish are scarce.

Kites

Kites are graceful birds of prey with long wings. Many spend a lot of time soaring or gliding while they search for food.

Their diets vary widely by species. Some eat mainly insects, some eat snails, some hunt small mammals, and some scavenge. A few kites will take small birds when they get the chance.

True Hawks

True hawks, in the genus Accipiter, are medium-sized woodland birds of prey. They have short, rounded wings and long tails, which help them twist through trees during sudden, fast chases.

These hawks are bird specialists. According to Audubon's Cooper's hawk guide, the Cooper's hawk feeds mainly on medium-sized birds such as robins, jays and flickers. It also eats small mammals such as chipmunks, squirrels, mice and bats.

That's why you may see a Cooper's hawk lurking near backyard bird feeders.

Buzzards

buzzards eat other birds

In Europe, "buzzard" refers to medium-large hawks in the genus Buteo, like the common buzzard. In North America, people often use "buzzard" for vultures instead.

Buteo hawks have broad, rounded wings and short tails. They often soar with their wings held in a shallow "V." Their color varies from very dark to quite pale.

Buzzards mainly eat small mammals such as voles, mice, rats and rabbits. They also take insects, worms, reptiles, carrion and sometimes birds.

Harriers

harriers eat other birds

Harriers are slender, long-tailed birds of prey that hunt by flying low over open country. They have sharp eyesight and good hearing. Male northern harriers are gray above and white below, with black wingtips.

Harriers live in marshes, wet meadows, grasslands, pastures and farm fields, and they nest on the ground.

Audubon says the northern harrier often specializes on voles and other rodents, but it may eat many birds, from songbirds up to the size of doves and small ducks.

Vultures

vultures eat other birds

Vultures have bare heads and necks, and their feet are better for walking than for grabbing prey. They belong to two separate groups: Old World vultures in the family Accipitridae, and New World vultures in the family Cathartidae.

Vultures mainly eat carrion, the remains of dead animals. Audubon notes that the black vulture sometimes eats the eggs of other birds and may kill and eat the young of some birds. Most vultures rarely hunt healthy adult animals.

Falcons

falcons eat other birds

Falcons are fast birds of prey with long, pointed wings. They range from small kestrels to large gyrfalcons.

Many falcons hunt birds in flight. Audubon describes the peregrine falcon's diet as mostly birds. Pigeons are favored prey in cities, and ducks and shorebirds are often taken along the coast.

Peregrines can take birds as large as geese and large gulls and as small as songbirds. They eat only a few small mammals.

Caracaras

caracaras eat other birds

Caracaras belong to the falcon family, Falconidae. The crested caracara has a bare face, long yellow legs, a large hooked bill and a black-and-white banded tail. It flies well but often walks on the ground.

Audubon says the crested caracara eats carrion and a wide variety of small animals, including rabbits, ground squirrels, snakes, turtles, fish, and various birds plus their eggs and young.

Owls

owls eat other birds

There are more than 200 species of owls around the world. Their flat, disk-shaped faces help channel sound to their ears, which helps them hunt in the dark.

Owls have large, forward-facing eyes. Many species also have feathered legs and feet.

Most owls eat mainly small mammals and insects. Larger owls also take birds. Audubon says the great horned owl eats some birds up to the size of geese, ducks, hawks and smaller owls.

What Do Birds Usually Eat?

Most birds eat fruit, seeds, nectar, insects, worms or fish. Birds of prey eat other animals, mainly small mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, depending on the species. A few large eagles can even catch monkeys.

Do Other Animal Species Eat Birds?

Yes. Many animals eat birds or their eggs, including snakes, foxes, raccoons, bobcats and other wild cats. Pet cats that go outdoors also kill large numbers of birds.