In case youve been wondering, now we know: Woodpeckers will sometimes eat the brains of baby birds. They sure will. And not only that, but they will drill their way to the good stuff with vigor.
This disturbing yet fascinating revelation comes by way of Smithsonian Magazine, where writer (and Audubon contributor) Jason Bittel investigated a YouTube video posted in 2015. The clip shows a Gila Woodpecker pecking through the skulls of two Mourning Dove chicks to feast on their brains and blood. (The video is below, but be warned: Its graphic.)
According to the story, the footage was originally taken by an ornithologist studying the breeding habits of birds. The woodpecker, however, had different plans. To find out more about this surprising behavior, Bittel talked to several bird experts, including Audubons Geoff LeBaron. While LeBaron hadnt seen or heard of such behavior from Gilas before, another researcher who studies woodpeckers told Bittel that he had. In fact, hes also seen Red-bellied and Red-headed Woodpeckers dine on other birds. Turns out, woodpeckers are not discriminating eaters.
While the video is shocking, whats going on here is simply nature. Birds are living things, and all living things need food. Where and how they get that food doesnt matter. We know some birds eat other birds, and our video last year showing a Bald Eagle nabbing an Osprey chick from a nest went viral. What makes this specific account so cringe-inducing is the defenselessness of the chicks. Well, that and the force with which the woodpecker strikes their skulls before lapping up everything inside. But hey, nature.
If you can handle it, we definitely recommend checking out the whole story, which explores the behavior and how it might have evolved more in-depth. Its a fascinating and fun read.
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Thanks to an investigation by writer and Audubon contributor Jason Bittel for Smithsonian Magazine, a 2015 YouTube video was the source of this unsettling but fascinating discovery. A Gila Woodpecker can be seen in the video pecking through the skulls of two Mourning Dove chicks in order to consume their blood and brains. (The video is below, but be warned: Its graphic. ).
Even though the video is startling, this is just nature. Birds are living things, and all living things need food. Where and how they get that food doesnt matter. We’re aware that certain birds prey on other birds, and last year, we released a viral video that showed a Bald Eagle stealing an Osprey chick from its nest. This particular account makes me cringe because of how helpless the girls are. That and the force with which the woodpecker hits their skulls and then swallows everything within But hey, nature.
The footage was initially captured, so the story goes, by an ornithologist researching birds’ nesting habits. The woodpecker, however, had different plans. Bittel conducted interviews with a number of bird experts, including Audubon’s Geoff LeBaron, to learn more about this unexpected behavior. Although LeBaron had never witnessed or heard of Gilas’ actions before, a different woodpecker researcher informed Bittel that he had He has actually witnessed Red-headed and Red-bellied Woodpeckers consuming other birds as food. Turns out, woodpeckers are not discriminating eaters.
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If you can handle it, we definitely recommend checking out the whole story, which explores the behavior and how it might have evolved more in-depth. Its a fascinating and fun read.
That interaction went as planned, but I never thought the blue jay would flinch first. When a jay landed, I’ve witnessed feeding red-bellied woodpeckers take off, almost as if to say, “Pfft.” Go for it. The eagle doesnt hunt the earthworm. .
Dominance hierarchies might also help dictate a birds range. Miller said red-breasted nuthatches, which score -3. 5, may be able to breed in greater numbers further south, but they are too small to compete with the white-breasted nuthatches (-2), so we will never know for sure. 51) already living there.
However, once more, you cannot assume that a bird with a higher fight score will outclass a bird with a lower score. In every one-on-one encounter, ravens outclass crows, but ravens tend to operate alone, whereas crows organize into gangs to gain territory and power.
You won’t find peace, harmony, and free love at birdfeeders, especially during the winter when food supplies can be limited. Researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology recently collaborated with Project Feeder Watch to gather bird behavior data from the program’s approximately 20,000 participants in order to gain a better understanding of the dominance hierarchy of birds.
The woodpecker paused, raised its head, and became fully tense. At risk of sounding anthropomorphic, I thought its body language was asking the blue jay, What the #&@# are you doing in my space?.
FAQ
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