The praying mantis is a known predator, typically stalking and consuming smaller invertebrates. However, a less common and often surprising aspect of their diet involves a much larger, feathered prey: birds. This unusual predatory behavior highlights a remarkable adaptability in their hunting strategies, extending beyond their typical insect fare.
The Surprising Reality of Avian Predation
Praying mantises prey on birds, a phenomenon documented globally across all continents except Antarctica. A comprehensive review identified 147 incidents of mantises capturing small birds, occurring in 13 different countries. This predatory behavior has been observed in various large mantis genera, including Tenodera, Sphodromantis, and Hierodula, which typically measure at least 6 cm in body length.
The birds most commonly targeted are small species, particularly hummingbirds, which account for over 70% of observed incidents in the USA. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is frequently reported as a victim, though other small passerine birds like finches, warblers, and sunbirds are also preyed upon. While these events are rare, they are well-documented by scientists and naturalists, demonstrating their capability to overpower significantly larger prey.
The Mantis’s Lethal Strategy
A praying mantis employs an ambush hunting technique to capture a bird, often remaining motionless and camouflaged. Once a bird comes within striking distance, the mantis executes a swift and precise strike. It firmly grips its perch with its four hind legs while its two raptorial forelegs snap forward.
These specialized forelegs are designed to seize and hold the bird with strength and precision. The mantis typically targets the bird’s head or neck, often piercing the skull or severing the spinal cord. Consumption of the bird often begins while it is still alive, with the mantis sometimes extracting nutrient-rich tissues.
Factors Contributing to These Encounters
These predatory events are often influenced by the opportunistic nature of mantises. Praying mantises are generalist predators, and their diet can expand to include any prey they can overpower, especially when food resources are scarce. As a mantis’s hunger increases, its willingness to strike at larger targets expands.
The habitat where these encounters occur also plays a role. Gardens and areas with bird feeders, which attract both mantises and small birds, create an environment where such interactions are more likely. The small size of the birds, particularly hummingbirds, combined with the mantis’s effective camouflage and rapid ambush tactics, are key factors enabling these captures. While these instances are not a primary food source for mantises, they represent exceptional cases of opportunistic predation, sometimes involving non-native mantis species that are larger than native species.