Here are several categories that cover a bird’s diet:
- Avivores — A bird that eats other birds. An example of an avivore is a kestrel.
- Carnivores — These birds mostly eat meat. Carnivorous birds include falcons and ospreys.
- Piscivores — These birds eat fish. An example of a piscivore is a pelican.
- Insectivores — Birds that mostly eat insects. This category includes warblers and swallows.
- Omnivores — These are birds that eat both meat and fruit. For example, crows and woodpeckers.
- Frugivores — Birds that mostly eat raw fruit; this includes parrots and toucans.
- Looking at the above, you might think that insectivores are the only birds that eat ants — but that’s not strictly true. You’ll find the majority of avivores, carnivores, insectivores, and omnivores also eat ants. Some piscivores occasionally eat ants, too.
We’ll highlight an ant-eating bird in some of these categories to make it easier. We’ll also look at what ants birds eat, why they eat them, and how ants avoid them. Let’s get started.
What Species of Birds Eat Ants?
The below table highlights particular bird species that eat ants.
Bird Species | How to Identify Them | What Else They Eat |
American Kestrel
Diet type: Avivore/Carnivore | Kestrels can be identified by the black stripes on the sides of their head. They also have ocelli on the back of their head — these are two black spots, which are like fake eyes — deterring attacks from behind. Male kestrels have blue wings and reddish bodies. Female kestrels have brown feathers. Fact: You can find kestrels throughout Alaska, Northern Canada, and North America. | American Kestrels also eat:
|
Osprey
Diet type: Avivore/Carnivore | Ospreys are unique. You can spot them by their large size — including long legs — and brown wings. Also, note their white body. You can recognize ospreys by listening out for short and spaced-apart high-pitched whistles. You can find them breeding in North America and migrating as far as South and Central America. | Osprey also eat:
|
Warblers
Diet type: Insectivore | Warblers come in many different variations with both new and old world species. Depending on the species, their feather color varies, so identifying a warbler can be tricky. However, warblers have a distinctive sound you can listen to. It’s a song that starts with a chirp followed by — you guessed it — warbling! | Warblers also eat:
|
American Robin
Diet type: Omnivore | You can recognize American robins by looking out for their bright orange belly and dark head. Female American robins look similar to male American robins, but their colors are duller and don’t stand out as much. Fun fact: European Robins also have an orange body, but they’re a lot smaller and plump compared to their American cousins. | American robins also eat:
|
Other species of birds that eat ants include:
- Owls
- American starlings
- Ravens
- Crows
- Pigeons
- Woodpeckers
- Hummingbirds
- Wrens
- Northern Cardinals
- Song sparrows
- Scarlet tanager
- Mourning doves
That said, we also want to mention a species of bird that DOES NOT eat ants.
Antbirds
Antbirds are otherwise known as ant followers. As the name suggests, they follow behind armies of ants and eat anything those ant armies leave behind.
So interestingly enough, despite their name, antbirds do not eat ants. It’s a common misconception. If antbirds did eat ants, they’d have no ants left to follow to get their food.
What Types of Ants Do Birds Eat?
Birds aren’t particularly picky about the types of ants they eat. We’ve seen birds eating:
- Black garden ants
- Carpenter ants
- Fire ants
- Flying ants
- And more…
Fun Fact: Some birds even eat ant eggs.
How do Ants Avoid Birds?
It really depends on the species of ant. Some ants don’t avoid birds, but others have defensive capabilities.
For example, woodland ants have been known to fire jets of formic acid to scare off woodpeckers and jaybirds.
Meanwhile, fire ants have been known to attack chickens. While this isn’t necessarily avoiding birds, we imagine fire ants would do the same if a bird entered their territory with its guard down.
So, while most ants don’t avoid birds, some do have ways to defend themselves or deter birds if they approach.
Why Do Birds Eat Ants? Here Are the Benefits
There are several benefits to birds eating ants. Ants have a high level of the following nutrients:
- Zinc — Helps heal a bird’s damaged tissue, builds protein, and supports a healthy immune system.
- Protein — Good for feather growth, hormone regulation, and repairing damaged tissue (like Zinc).
- Iron — Helps with growth and gives the bird energy.
- Magnesium — Good for bone and heart health.
Since ants usually flock in the thousands, too, they’re a really good source of food that birds never struggle to find.
What Else Do Birds Eat?
Depending on the bird species, birds also eat:
- Fruit
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Berries
- Raisins
- Fish
- Butterflies
Interestingly enough, some birds even eat oatmeal.
Find Joy in Birding Today
You now know that birds eat ants, but there might be some facts about them you didn’t know. Check out our blog to start learning today, and follow our beginner’s guide to take your first steps toward being an expert birdwatcher.
Sam is a nature enthusiast who’s been birdwatching in both the old and new world. He even enjoys an annual tradition of watching kittiwakes nesting on the cliffs of Southern England