The mysterious disappearance of the eggs, baby birds, and even an adult from an active bird nest is relatively common. Studies of nesting birds found that predation by snakes is the leading cause of nest failure, and only half of all bird nests are successful.
This article reviews the interactions between snakes and bird nests, identify snake species known to eat bird eggs and baby birds, and proposes ways to stop snakes from raiding nesting boxes.
Some snakes have a particular appetite for eggs. Known as oophagy, the practice of egg eating is common among certain snake species. In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating world of egg-eating snakes and find out why they target avian eggs.
Which Snakes Consume Eggs?
Not all snakes eat eggs. The following species however are well-known egg eaters
- Rat snakes – The most frequent bird nest predators, including black rat snakes, corn snakes, and fox snakes
- Kingsnakes – Such as scarlet kingsnakes, speckled kingsnakes, and milk snakes
- Racers – Especially the black racer
- Garter snakes
- Pine snakes
- Coachwhips
- Egg-eating snakes – A species that lives exclusively on eggs
- Kukri snakes
- Indian egg-eating snakes
Snakes that seldom eat eggs but will on occasion include rattlesnakes, puffing snakes, Taiwanese tree snakes, and yellow-faced whipsnakes.
Constrictors like boas and pythons generally avoid eggs since they are too small to provide sustenance. Venomous snakes also don’t rely on eggs but will eat them opportunistically.
How Do Snakes Find Bird Nests?
Snakes locate bird nests using their keen senses of sight and smell. Visual cues seem especially important. Rat snakes in particular are adept at tracking adult birds flying to and from nests. Increased activity around a nest signifies the presence of eggs or hatchlings drawing the snake’s attention.
Many egg-eating snakes are arboreal spending much of their time in trees and shrubs where birds build nests. Excellent climbers they can access nests high up in the canopy. Most raids happen at night when parent birds are helpless to defend their eggs. Under the cover of darkness, snakes strike swiftly and quietly.
Why Do Snakes Eat Eggs?
Birds’ eggs provide snakes with a convenient source of nutrition. Egg contents offer protein, fat, and water—all important dietary components.
Compared to prey animals that require capture and subduing, eggs are easy for snakes to consume. Their flexible jaws allow them to swallow eggs whole. Pressing the egg against their vertebrae cracks the shell, and once finished, snakes regurgitate the shell pieces.
For some species, eggs are a dietary mainstay. The African egg-eating snake and Indian egg-eating snake subsist almost solely on bird eggs. Most other egg-eating snakes supplement eggs with small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates.
What Kinds of Eggs Do Snakes Prey On?
In the wild, snakes feed predominantly on birds’ eggs, raiding the nests of songbirds, pigeons, doves, and waterfowl. On occasion, they may also eat reptile eggs.
Pet snakes can eat fertilized chicken eggs, quail eggs, and other small bird eggs. It’s important to match egg size to the snake’s head size. Eggs that are too large will be impossible to swallow.
Stopping Snakes from Raiding Nests
For birdwatchers hoping to protect eggs and nestlings, there are several ways to deter snakes:
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Clear vegetation around the nest since snakes hide in nearby foliage before striking at night.
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Remove woodpiles, debris piles, and other potential snake hiding spots.
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Don’t leave pet food or birdseed out to attract rodents that snakes prey on.
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Install a cone-shaped stovepipe baffle on nesting boxes and poles to block snakes from climbing.
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Use a smooth metal pole coated with grease to mount nesting boxes.
With vigilance and proper precautions, you can enjoy watching birds raise their young, safe from egg-loving snakes. For snakes, egg eating is simply part of their nature. By understanding the behavior and not vilifying snakes, we can find ways for birds and serpents to peacefully coexist.
Coach-whip (Masticophis flagellum)
Photo: Peter Paplanus/Flickr/CC by 2.0
Description: An adult Coach-whip has a bicolored body. The head and roughly the front half of the body are dark and even black, grading toward tan or brown toward the back half. The name derives from the fact that the tip of the tail shows scales that appear to be braided. Juvenile Coach-whips are all tan with brown bands.
Coach-whip snakes reach over 8 feet (244 cm) in length.
Habits: Coach-whips favor open and semi-open habitats such as old fields, scrub vegetation, hedgerows, and forest edges. They are exclusively diurnal snake that uses visual cues to locate and often actively pursue their prey.
I know snakes raid birds’ nests, but how bad is the problem?
Based on a review of 53 studies on nest predation conducted in North America, ornithologists found that snakes predated 26% of nests on average. Bear in mind, though, that this is an average number.
In some studies, snakes did not predate on any of the nests, while in others, up to 90% of the nests were predated by snakes. This range of results suggests that the loss of eggs, baby birds, and adults lost to snakes is highly variable and depends on many factors.
An interesting revelation was that nest predation by snakes is more frequent at lower (or southern) latitudes and warmer states than in colder northern states.
Ornithologists and bird enthusiasts have identified nine snake species specialized in finding bird nests to eat the eggs and baby birds.
Ornithologists found that 70% of snake raids on bird nests were made by:
- Rat snakes (Elaphe obsolete)
- Corn snakes (Elaphe guttata), and
- Fox snakes (Elaphe vulpinus)
These three snakes of the genus Elaphe and others of the genus Pituophis (pine snakes) are specialized in feeding on mice, rats, roosting birds, and bird nests.
These snakes are excellent climbers that regularly explore the forest canopy and human-made structures in search of prey.
Egg-eater swallowing huge egg, egg-eating snake feeding (Dasypeltis), snake eating behavior
FAQ
What kind of snake eats eggs?
- Dasypeltis abyssina. …
- Dasypeltis arabica.
- Montane Egg-Eater Dasypeltis atra. …
- Egyptian Egg-eating Snake Dasypeltis bazi. …
- Confusing Egg Eater Dasypeltis confusa.
- Dasypeltis congolensis. …
- Dasypeltis crucifera. …
- Central African Egg-eating Snake Dasypeltis fasciata.
What snake ate an egg?
egg-eating snake, any of the five species of the genus Dasypeltis of sub-Saharan Africa and Elachistodon westermanni of northeastern India. These nonvenomous snakes comprise the subfamily Dasypeltinae, family Colubridae. Members of Dasypeltis eat only bird eggs; E.
Will snakes eat eggs?
Snakes are frequent predators of bird nests and therefore potentially have an important impact on bird population dynamics. However, while many species are known to consume nestlings and chicks, few species have been recorded consuming bird eggs.
What snake eats eggs?
If so, then the African Egg-Eating Snake might be for you. This snake approx a 2.5-foot long snake that ranges throughout Africa. The one disadvantage of this snake is that it only eats eggs, which can make feeding difficult. 15. Dekay’s Brown Snake The brown snakes on the deck are small, they can be 1 foot or more in length.
What are egg-eating snakes?
Egg-eating snakes are a recognized group of snakes belonging to two different genera (scientific groups). These genera are Dasypeltis and Elachistodon, each with its groups of species within the genera. Each species within the group has special adaptations that allow them to find and eat a diet that is entirely made up of eggs.
Where do egg eating snakes live?
Africa is the native home of the common egg-eating snake. Here they can be found in Angola; Botswana; Burundi; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Egypt; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Kenya; Lesotho; Malawi; Mali; Mozambique; Namibia; Rwanda; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sudan and Tanzania.