Which birds eat mice? - briefly
Predatory birds such as barn owls, short‑eared owls, red‑tailed hawks, Cooper’s hawks, kestrels, larger gulls and crows regularly capture and consume mice.
Which birds eat mice? - in detail
Birds that prey on small rodents such as mice belong to several families, each with distinct hunting strategies and ecological niches.
Many raptors are adapted to capture mammals. Species commonly observed hunting mice include:
- Red-tailed Hawk («Buteo jamaicensis») – medium‑sized hawk, widespread in North America; employs soaring flight and sudden dives to seize rodents from open fields.
- Cooper’s Hawk («Accipiter cooperii») – forest‑edge specialist; utilizes agile flight through dense vegetation to ambush ground‑dwelling mice.
- Great Horned Owl («Bubo virginianus») – nocturnal predator; relies on acute hearing and silent flight to locate and seize prey in low‑light conditions.
- Barn Owl («Tyto alba») – global distribution; possesses facial disc that focuses sound, enabling detection of mouse movements beneath vegetation.
- Northern Goshawk («Accipiter gentilis») – forest interior hunter; captures rodents by rapid stoops from concealed perches.
Smaller diurnal birds also include mammals in their diet:
- American Kestrel («Falco sparverius») – the smallest falcon in North America; captures mice by hovering and striking from a short distance.
- Merlin («Falco columbarius») – swift falcon; takes mice during low‑altitude pursuits over open terrain.
Corvids exhibit opportunistic predation:
- Common Raven («Corvus corax») – large passerine; scavenges and actively kills mice, especially during winter scarcity.
- American Crow («Corvus brachyrhynchos») – forms groups to flush out rodents from leaf litter, then captures them individually.
Waterbirds occasionally target terrestrial rodents:
- Pied Kingfisher («Ceryle rudis») – coastal and inland water habitats; dives from perches to snatch mice near water edges.
- Egyptian Goose («Alopochen aegyptiaca») – feeds on small mammals when seeds are scarce.
Key factors influencing predation include:
- Habitat overlap – birds frequent open fields, agricultural margins, and woodland edges where mouse populations are dense.
- Morphological adaptations – sharp talons, hooked beaks, and keen vision or hearing facilitate detection and subdual of agile prey.
- Seasonal variation – winter months often see increased reliance on mammals due to reduced insect availability.
Understanding the diversity of avian predators of mice informs ecosystem management, pest control strategies, and conservation planning.