Frogs That Eat Birds – A Surprising Fact of Nature

Many people are surprised to learn that some frog species actually eat birds. After all, when we think of frogs, we typically imagine them snacking on insects, worms, or smaller amphibians. However, there are a number of large, carnivorous frog species with powerful appetites that allow them to consume prey as big as themselves – including birds

Why Do Some Frogs Eat Birds?

Frogs are opportunistic eaters. They will consume any prey that they can overpower and swallow whole. For smaller frog species this means a diet consisting of bugs spiders, earthworms, and other small invertebrates. But larger frogs have big appetites to match their size.

The most notorious bird-eating frog species are aggressive ambush predators that lurk near water sources waiting for unsuspecting prey to wander by. They have wide mouths and powerful jaws designed for capturing and consuming large meals. Given the chance, these carnivorous giants will eat just about anything they can catch and fit in their mouths – rodents, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and even birds.

So while no frogs specifically target birds as their primary food source, the largest species will readily eat them if given the opportunity. It’s simply a matter of their predatory nature and opportunity meeting.

What Species of Frogs Eat Birds?

Here are several frog species known to eat birds as part of their varied carnivorous diets:

American Bullfrog

The American bullfrog is the largest frog in North America, sometimes growing over 6 inches long. Their immense size and voracious appetites mean they will eat just about any smaller animals they encounter – including frogs, snakes, turtles, rodents, bats, and small birds.

African Bullfrog

Also known as the pixie frog, the African bullfrog is a massive, aggressive eater. They will consume any prey they can overpower, no matter the size. Their victims include insects, rodents, lizards, other frogs, and even large birds when feasible.

Budgett’s Frog

This large, aquatic South American frog inhabits rivers and streams. It feeds on fish, crabs, frogs, snakes, and small birds that wander too close to the water’s edge and within striking distance.

Horned Frogs

There are several species of horned frogs, including Cranwell’s horned frog and Argentine horned frog. They lay in wait to ambush small mammals and birds using their immense mouths and powerful bites.

Helmeted Water Toad

One of the most aggressive frog species, the helmeted water toad of South America consumes anything it can overpower – insects, worms, crabs, rodents, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and small birds.

Goliath Frog

As the world’s largest frog, growing over 1 foot long, the Goliath frog occasionally eats small mammals, bats, and even birds – though their main diet consists of insects, crabs, fish, and smaller amphibians.

How Do Frogs Catch and Eat Birds?

Frogs employ a few hunting techniques when it comes to consuming birds:

• Ambush – Frogs will sit perfectly still for hours, camouflaged near water sources, waiting for unsuspecting birds to come within striking range. Then they lunge forward with their powerful hind legs and catch birds with their strong jaws and teeth.

• Tongue strike – Using their incredibly fast, sticky tongues, some frogs can snatch small birds straight out of the air and into their mouths.

• Underwater ambush – Aquatic frog species hide among plants and debris near the water’s surface, waiting for birds that land on the water or come to drink. Then they strike from below, using their hind legs to leap up and grab prey.

• Chase down – If their ambush misses, some speedy frog species can rapidly chase birds down on land over short distances to make another attempt at capture.

Once they’ve secured their prey in their mouths, frogs swallow birds whole and alive. Their expandable jaws and stomachs allow them to consume surprisingly large meals.

Why Don’t Birds Eat More Frogs?

While some of the largest frog species can overpower smaller birds, the reverse isn’t as common. Most birds cannot successfully hunt and kill frogs due to the amphibians’ slimy skin and ability to leap away to safety.

However, there are some exceptions:

• Herons – These aquatic birds are able to catch and consume small-to-medium sized frogs with their spear-like beaks.

• Cranes – These tall wading birds will feed on frogs disturbed from vegetation as the crane walks through wetlands.

• Hawks – Larger hawks possess the ability to swoop down and snatch up squirmy frogs with their talons.

So while predatory interactions between frogs and birds do occur, it’s far more likely for a frog to eat a bird than vice versa in most cases. The next time you see a frog, look at it a bit differently, keeping in mind that it just might be a bird-eater!