Crows are notoriously intelligent birds, known for their problem-solving abilities. If you’ve ever wondered whether these crafty corvids prey on snakes, you’re not alone. Many people find themselves asking: do crows eat snakes?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Yes, crows do sometimes eat snakes. Crows are opportunistic omnivores and will eat small snakes when given the chance.
In this nearly 3,000 word article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the predation habits of crows when it comes to snakes. We’ll explore what types of snakes crows prey on, how they hunt and kill snakes, and why snakes can be an appealing meal for these clever birds.
What Kinds of Snakes do Crows Eat?
Small, Nonvenomous Snakes are Common Prey
Crows are opportunistic predators and will eat snakes when they can catch them. However, they tend to focus their hunting efforts on smaller, nonvenomous snake species that pose less of a threat.
Some of the most common snake prey for crows include:
- Garter snakes
- Ribbon snakes
- Ringneck snakes
- Brown snakes
- Grass snakes
These slender snakes rarely exceed 3 feet in length, so they are manageable meals for a hungry crow. Their small size and lack of venom makes them relatively safe for crows to hunt and consume. Research shows crows will actively seek out and consume snakes when other prey is scarce, viewing them as an abundant food source.
Baby Rattlesnakes are Also at Risk
In rattlesnake territory, crows may raid rattlesnake dens and eat newly hatched rattlesnakes before they become too dangerous. Baby rattlesnakes are born with venom, but they cannot deliver doses that are lethal to crows. Their rattles are also underdeveloped, so they pose little warning.
One fascinating study observed American crows working together to distract and hunt baby Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes. While one crow distracted the mother rattlesnake, another crow raided the nest and flew off with a baby snake in its beak.
This strategy allows crows to take advantage of the abundant food source of rattlesnake dens while minimizing their risk of venomous snakebites. It demonstrates the remarkable intelligence and cooperation within crow communities.
Crows Tend to Avoid Larger, Venomous Snakes
However, crows exhibit caution around larger, dangerous snake species like cobras, vipers and large rattlesnakes. These snakes can deliver a lethal dose of venom if they land a bite on a crow, so direct attacks are rare.
If a crow does attempt to eat one of these larger snakes, they will usually target already dead or injured snakes that pose less threat. There are isolated reports of crows harassing dangerous snakes to exhaust them before moving in for a kill.
But in general, crows seem to understand the substantial risk of tangling with these venomous predators.
So while crows are bold predators, they are not foolish. Their preference is to seek out smaller, more manageable snake prey to avoid potential injury. By sticking to nonvenomous species and juveniles, crows can safely enjoy snakes as part of a diverse diet.
How do Crows Hunt and Kill Snakes?
Crows Use Teamwork and Intelligence When Hunting
Crows have demonstrated incredible intelligence and complex social behaviors when hunting snakes as a group. Researchers have observed family groups, called “murders”, of 5-12 crows working together to surround, distract and ultimately kill snakes.
Initially, a few scout crows will closely watch a snake from a safe distance. Once confident about attacking, they will begin loudly “mobbing” the snake – by cawwing warnings to attract more crows from the murder to participate. As more crows arrive, they form a loose circle around the snake.
The crows take turns diving towards the snake, to distract it from fleeing. Some harass the snake by pecking its body or tugging on it with their beaks and feet. Others tease the snake, landing just outside of striking distance – hoping to tire the snake as it defensively lunges and snaps at its tormentors.
Throughout the attack, the crows maintain loud mobbing calls to coordinate their harassment of the snake.
This remarkable cooperative hunting allows the crows to tackle dangerous prey like venomous snakes that a single crow would avoid. Their teamwork and planning showcase advanced intelligence compared to other birds.
Mobbing Behavior Overwhelms Snakes
The intense “mobbing” behavior by a large murder of crows produces a tremendous din of loud caws surrounding the snake. This barrage of noise, movement and attacks is extremely disorientating and stressful for snakes.
With limited stamina, the beleaguered snake eventually becomes exhausted by constantly pivoting its head from side to side and striking out as each new attack comes. Its reactions grow slower and weaker against the unrelenting harassment.
Research by the University of California found that mobbing by just 4-5 crows can overstimulate a snake’s sensory and nervous systems – making it 6 times more likely to die compared to unmolested snakes.
This mobbing behavior also leaves snakes substantially more vulnerable to predators like coyotes.
So the cacophony of constant cawing and diving attacks by crows is a highly effective hunting strategy to debilitate snakes through sensory overload.
Crows Use Tools to Flip Snakes Over
Crows demonstrate fascinating problem-solving skills by using sticks and stones as tools to flip snakes over onto their backs. Thisimmobilizes the upside-down snake and keeps it from striking back at the crows.
Footage by National Geographic showed crows dropping large stones onto big snakes, targeting the head and neck area most likely to overbalance the snake. Other videos display crows grabbing sticks in their beaks to prod and flip thrashing snakes onto their backs.
Flipping venomous snakes over is an ingenious technique to remove the threat of snake bites. It allows the massing crows to more safely target lethal pecking attacks on the snake’s vulnerable underbelly and throat.
Using tools to outsmart formidable predators like snakes clearly exhibitsadvanced cognition and logic by these remarkable birds. It emphasizes why many experts consider crows to be the most intelligent species of birds studied so far.
Why are Snakes a Good Meal for Crows?
Snakes are a Good Source of Protein
Snakes provide an excellent source of protein for crows. The meat of snakes contains all the essential amino acids and nutrients required in a crow’s diet. Crows are omnivorous birds that need a balanced diet of plants and meat to thrive.
The protein in snakes helps crows maintain muscle mass, feather growth and egg production. Consuming snakes allows crows to meet their high protein requirements efficiently.
Furthermore, snakes have a high meat to bone ratio compared to other prey. This makes snakes easy for crows to consume and digest. Crows can easily tear snake flesh off the bones and extract maximum nutritional value.
The abundance of snakes across many ecosystems also makes them a readily available protein source for opportunistic crows.
Crows Need to Feed Their Young
Crows that are breeding and raising chicks require even more protein than usual. Baby crows need high protein diets for healthy growth and development. A nest with 3-4 growing crow fledglings can demand immense amounts of protein daily. Snakes provide an abundant supply of protein to feed baby crows.
Crow parents can capture snakes up to one-third of their own body size to provision their chicks. Capturing a few snakes enables crow parents to satisfy the protein requirements of their demanding brood.
Young crows raised on diets with adequate snake protein grow stronger, larger and have better chances of surviving to adulthood.
Crows Have Developed Resistance to Some Venoms
Crows have adapted physiological resistance and behavioral techniques to hunt venomous snakes safely. Their blood serum contains protective proteins that neutralize certain snake venom toxins. This allows crows to consume venomous snakes like rattlesnakes with a reduced risk of envenomation.
Crows also cleverly flip venomous snakes on their back before consumption. This exposes the unprotected underbelly and allows crows to avoid snake bites. Furthermore, crows predominantly target juvenile snakes which have lower venom yields that are less dangerous.
These adaptations have enabled crows to evolve the ability to exploit snakes as a nutritious food source.
When are Crows Most Likely to Eat Snakes?
Snake Egg Predation in the Spring
Crows are opportunistic predators and will eat snake eggs when they can find them. This typically occurs in the spring when snakes are laying eggs. Crows will search through vegetation and leaf litter looking for snake nests and consume the eggs.
Some species of crows have even been observed following gravid (pregnant) female snakes during the breeding season, waiting for them to lay eggs to swoop in and eat.
Crows Eat More Snakes When Other Prey is Scarce
When populations of small mammals, insects, amphibians and other typical prey items decline, crows will begin targeting larger prey like snakes more frequently. This opportunistic shift helps ensure the crows can still find sufficient food.
Eating snakes does carry higher risk of injury for crows, so they tend to focus on snakes more during lean times when the payoff of extra protein outweighs the danger.
Baby Crows Need More Protein from Snakes
The dietary needs of developing crows are higher in protein than adult crows. This drives crow parents to seek out and deliver more snakes and other meaty prey to nestlings and juvenile crows which need the protein boost to grow feathers and muscle mass quickly.
So snakes often make up a larger proportion of the diet for baby crows compared to adults. Parents have been observed beating larger snakes into smaller pieces to feed nestlings.
Notable Examples and Videos of Crows Eating Snakes
Crows are opportunistic feeders and will eat a variety of prey, including snakes. Here are some notable examples and videos documenting crows predating on snakes:
Crows Eating Rat Snakes in Suburban Neighborhoods
There are several amateur videos online showing American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) feeding on black rat snakes (Elaphe obsoleta) in suburban neighborhoods. These nonvenomous snakes are common prey for the intelligent and adaptable crows.
- A viral video from 2020 shows a murder of crows surrounding and eating a rat snake on a residential street, working together to pull the snake apart.
- Another backyard video displays a crow family tearing into a large rat snake and feeding the pieces to their fledglings.
Experiments with Crows and Snake Predation
In controlled experiments, researchers have demonstrated that wild crows will readily prey on venomous snakes, with naive young crows learning this behavior from experienced adults.
- A 2015 Canadian study showed that wild American crows consume poisonous coral snakes without ill effects, suggesting they have developed physiological resistance to the venom.
- Another experiment in 2019 confirmed that wild crows use their intelligence to predicate on dangerous prey like vipers, transmitting this “risk-taking” behavior culturally between generations.
The videos and research confirm that crows do indeed feed on snakes in the wild, even venomous species, thanks in part to their intelligence, social learning capacity, and resistance to toxins.
Conclusion
As intelligent and adaptable birds, crows have learned that snakes can be an excellent source of protein when the opportunity presents itself. By mobbing snakes in groups, utilizing tools, and targeting small or young snakes, crows are able to turn these reptiles into meals.
While not a primary food source, snakes do contribute to the diverse diets of crows across habitats. Understanding how crows hunt and eat snakes provides fascinating insight into their complex behaviors and survival strategies.