Hummingbird Articles
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| Hummingbird Articles |
Hummingbirds are incredibly quick and agile, so predators have a
difficult time catching them. This explains the hummingbird's
legendary cockiness in the face of danger; in the North American East
for example, hummingbirds are often seen mercilessly harassing (and
overcoming) large hawks as they vie for territory during migration.
They do have their predators, though. These include numerous other
bird species (from orioles to roadrunners), but perhaps the most
surprising is the praying mantis. The ability of a praying mantis to
pose motionless and strike with lightning speed at an unsuspecting
hummingbird presents a real risk.
Hummingbirds eaten by praying mantis
This is not a question but more a warning. With 25 feeders in our
front yard we attract many hummingbirds but this year we had a
tragic experience. We found a praying mantis on the hummingbird
feeder with a adult female bird in her claws. She was feeding on the
hummingbirds’ brains and then dropping them and waiting for another.
As I know that mantises are very beneficial I did not kill it
although I felt like it. We removed the offending insect and checked
very carefully twice a day. I am tell eNature readers about this
unfortunate incident so they can be watchful. I had never had this
happen before but once was enough. If I had not have been so
discussed by the sight I would have taken a photograph. And "YES" it
was a huge female mantis.
