The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is one of the world’s most widespread and adaptable carnivores, thriving across the Northern Hemisphere in diverse habitats, from wilderness to urban areas. Foxes do eat birds, and avian prey forms a regular part of their diet. Their highly flexible hunting behavior allows them to successfully exploit any available food source, including various types of birds and their young.
Foxes as Opportunistic Predators
The Red Fox is classified as an omnivore, meaning its diet includes both plant and animal matter. This dietary flexibility allows the species to survive and flourish in many different environments. They are opportunistic feeders, consuming what is most readily available and easiest to catch in their territory and season.
While foxes consume birds, the foundation of their diet primarily consists of small mammals, such as mice, voles, and rabbits, which are reliable sources of energy. Invertebrates, including insects and crayfish, along with fruits, berries, and carrion, also contribute significantly to their nutritional intake. Birds are often considered secondary prey, becoming more important when primary food sources are scarce or during specific times of the year.
Foxes exhibit “prey switching,” adjusting their feeding based on the local abundance of different animals. If the population of rodents or rabbits declines, the proportion of birds and other species in the fox diet will increase to compensate. This reliance on the easiest meal means a bird is most vulnerable if it is injured, on the ground, or nesting in an exposed location.
Types of Avian Prey and Hunting Methods
Foxes rarely expend the energy to catch healthy, adult flying birds, which are generally too quick and agile. Instead, they focus on accessible and defenseless prey. Eggs, nestlings, and recently fledged chicks are highly susceptible to predation, especially during spring and early summer when food demand is high for feeding their young.
Ground-nesting bird species, such as pheasants, ducks, and quail, are particularly vulnerable because their nests are easily located and destroyed. A fox uses its acute senses of hearing and smell to locate prey, which are far superior to its eyesight, especially for detecting small movements. They can hear a mouse squeak from over 100 feet away, making it easy to pinpoint the location of a hidden nest.
The primary hunting times for foxes are during the crepuscular hours of dawn and dusk, though they also hunt throughout the night. A characteristic technique for small prey like rodents is the “mousing pounce,” where the fox listens intently, rears up, and leaps high to pin its target with its front paws. For larger prey, like a sitting game bird, the fox adopts a stalking approach, crouching low and rushing the target when within striking distance.
Deterring Foxes from Backyard Bird Habitats
Implementing physical barriers and removing attractants are the most effective non-lethal deterrence methods for protecting backyard birds or small poultry. Foxes are drawn to backyards primarily by the scent of food and the presence of easy prey. Securing outdoor food sources is the first step in making a property less appealing to a fox.
Bird feeders can inadvertently become a fox attractant, not only by drawing birds but also by scattering seed that attracts rodents. Cleaning up spilled seed underneath feeders daily and storing bird seed in sealed, heavy containers can significantly reduce this draw. Pet food bowls left outside overnight should also be removed, as they are a direct food source.
Protecting poultry requires more robust measures, as foxes are adept climbers, jumpers, and diggers. Any chicken coop or run must be secured with thick-gauge wire mesh buried at least 10 to 12 inches into the ground and turned outward to prevent digging underneath the fence. Motion-activated lighting or sound devices can also be used as a deterrent, startling the fox with a sudden change in its environment.