Crocodiles are apex predators that sit atop the food chain. Their armored skin and powerful jaws make them formidable foes that can take down almost any animal that crosses their path. However, there are a few rare birds that have evolved strategies to prey on crocodiles.
Birds that eat crocodiles
Very few birds directly prey on crocodiles. Most birds are simply too small to take on these massive reptiles. However, there are a couple of birds that do occasionally eat baby crocodiles or crocodile eggs:
- African fish eagles
- Marabou storks
These large birds of prey have been observed swooping down and grabbing crocodile hatchlings. They can quickly fly away with the small crocs before the mother crocodile even notices. Attacks on fully grown crocodiles are rare, but have been documented in some cases.
African fish eagle
The African fish eagle is a very large bird of prey that is found widely across sub-Saharan Africa. These eagles typically feed on fish and can be found along rivers and lakes. However, they are opportunistic predators and have been observed preying on baby Nile crocodiles in places where their ranges overlap.
African fish eagles can have wingspans up to 8 feet across. They use their powerful talons to snatch up prey. There are some rare reports of these eagles even killing crocodiles up to 4 feet long. However, they tend to focus their hunting efforts on more manageable hatchling crocodiles.
Marabou stork
The marabou stork is another very large African bird that occasionally eats crocodiles. They live throughout sub-Saharan Africa and are known for eating almost anything they can swallow. These massive storks stand over 5 feet tall and have wingspans up to 12 feet wide.
Marabous are not predators by nature. They are scavengers that feed on carrion and waste. However, they have been documented killing and eating smaller crocodiles on rare occasions. Their intimidating size allows them to feed on baby crocodiles without much fear of retaliation from mother crocodiles.
How do birds hunt crocodiles?
Birds that prey on crocodiles have evolved specialized hunting techniques to take on these armored reptiles:
- Airborne attacks – Birds like eagles and storks rely on aerial attacks. By striking from the sky, they can use the element of surprise and avoid the crocodile’s deadly mouth.
- Talon attacks – Large raptors will use their powerful talons to strike at a crocodile’s vulnerable underbelly or eyes.
- Mobbing behavior – Some smaller birds like herons may mob crocodiles in groups to try and distract them while others go for the kill.
Many birds that attack crocodiles aim for more vulnerable babies. Adults are much harder to take down given their size, thick hide, and lethal bites. Only the largest birds of prey stand much of a chance against fully grown crocodiles.
Why don’t more birds eat crocodiles?
Crocodiles and birds typically co-exist without much conflict. There are a few key reasons why most birds don’t directly prey on crocodiles:
- Size mismatch – Crocodiles can grow over 15 feet long and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Most birds are simply too small to threaten them.
- Thick armor – Thick boney plates called osteoderms cover a crocodile’s back, protecting it from attacks.
- Deadly bites – A crocodile’s bite delivers over 3,000 pounds per square inch. One bite could kill most birds.
- Nest defense – Mother crocodiles aggressively protect their nests from potential predators.
Only the very largest birds like the African fish eagle can realistically threaten a crocodile. And even then, birds tend to go after more vulnerable babies and eggs rather than fully armored adults.
Notable examples of birds eating crocodiles
While rare, there are some noteworthy examples of birds successfully preying on crocodiles:
- In 2013, photos surfaced of an African fish eagle in Zambia eating a 4-foot Nile crocodile it had killed.
- Marabou storks reportedly occasionally prey on Nile crocodile hatchlings at Lake Turkana in Kenya.
- There is an unverified report of a marabou stork drowning an 8-foot crocodile in Kruger National Park, South Africa after a prolonged struggle.
- A YouTube video from 2010 shows a group of herons in Australia repeatedly stabbing an 8-foot crocodile they had surrounded.
While impressive, these types of crocodile predation events are quite rare. Crocodiles account for only a tiny fraction of the overall diets of predatory birds like eagles and storks.
Defense against bird attacks
Crocodiles have a number of defensive adaptations that protect them from attacks by birds:
- Thick hide – Their bony armored plating is usually enough to deter bird attacks.
- Evasive maneuvers – They can quickly dive under water to avoid aerial assaults.
- Deadly rolls – Crocodiles are capable of performing fast rolling maneuvers to defend themselves.
- Jaw strength – One bite from a crocodile’s massive jaws can crush bones and kill birds.
Baby crocodiles are more vulnerable due to their small size. But mother crocodiles provide protection by guarding hatchlings and aggressively chasing away potential bird predators.
Conclusion
Birds do sometimes eat crocodiles, but it is quite uncommon. Only the largest birds of prey like the African fish eagle or marabou stork are capable of actively hunting crocodiles. They tend to go after more vulnerable babies and eggs rather than adult crocodiles. Crocodiles have thick armored skin, deadly bites, and other defenses that make them difficult prey, even for birds of prey. While amazing to see, a bird successfully taking down a crocodile remains a rare event.
