Many people wonder if bears consume birds, and the answer is yes, they do, though it is not a primary component of their diet. Bears are highly adaptable omnivores, meaning their food sources include both plants and animals. Their dietary habits are largely influenced by what is readily available in their environment throughout different seasons. This flexibility allows them to thrive in various habitats by taking advantage of diverse food opportunities as they arise.
Bears and Avian Prey
Bear species consume birds or bird-related items. Both black bears (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) have been observed engaging in this behavior, depending on their specific habitat and the availability of food sources. In the Arctic, polar bears (Ursus maritimus) also consume bird eggs, especially when their primary prey, seals, are less accessible. This consumption of avian prey is generally opportunistic rather than involving active hunting of adult birds.
Eggs and young, undeveloped birds are more common targets for bears than mature, flying birds. For instance, grizzly bears will eat eggs from various migratory and game birds, including turkeys, grouse, and ducks. Black bears, too, occasionally eat birds and their eggs. This behavior highlights bears’ ability to exploit diverse food sources as part of their varied diet.
Opportunistic Foraging
Bears primarily target easily accessible avian food sources, such as eggs found in nests and newly hatched chicks or fledglings that have fallen from nests. Active pursuit of flying adult birds is rare, though coastal brown bears have been observed attempting to capture seagulls sharing fish meals. Bears might also attempt to capture ducks, Canadian geese, and sandhill cranes, but successful captures of adult birds are uncommon.
Bears use their keen sense of smell and powerful digging abilities to locate these hidden food sources. They may sniff out ground nests or overturn logs and rocks to access eggs and young birds. For instance, brown bears are known to dig through burrows to reach puffin eggs and chicks. Evidence of bird consumption, such as feathers or bone fragments, can sometimes be found in bear scat.
When polar bears consume bird eggs, they often eat their way through entire colonies, moving from nest to nest. For example, a single polar bear was observed consuming eggs from a common eider duck nesting colony with 300 nests within a 48-hour period. These opportunistic feeding events provide bears with additional protein and fat, particularly when other food sources are scarce.
Birds in a Bear’s Diet
Birds and bird products constitute a minor portion of a bear’s overall diet. Bears are omnivores, and their diet primarily consists of plant matter like berries, roots, nuts, and grasses, which can make up to 90% of their food intake. Insects, fish, and small mammals also form part of their varied menu. For example, black bears often derive most of their animal protein from insects like ant brood and hornet larvae.
While bird eggs and young birds provide protein and fat, they are typically consumed when other more calorie-dense foods are less available or easily accessed. For polar bears, for instance, bird eggs do not offer enough calories to sustain their large body size compared to their primary prey, seals, which are rich in fat. Consequently, despite occasional consumption, birds are not a staple food source for most bear species.