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Birds That Eat Praying Mantis

The praying mantis is an insect that belongs to the order of Mantodea. It derives its name from the large front legs which assume a position that looks as if it's holding its arms up in prayer. The irony is that the praying mantis is a fearsome predator and rather than praying, it's waiting for some unsuspecting prey to come its way. However, the praying mantis has little natural defense from its own predators and itself often becomes a meal for spiders, bats and birds.

Defense Techniques
- Praying mantids use camouflage in order to allow their prey to get really close to them. As it turns out, if the praying mantis keeps still, camouflage is its only real defense from bird predators. If it is spotted by a bird, it may use some defensive displays in order to avoid becoming some other creature's dinner. It can rear up and lift its impressive forelegs as well as reveal spots on its thorax that look like eyes. This can be confusing to the predator. Some species of praying mantis can also produce wing extensions that make it look as if it's bigger and more ferocious. However, if these techniques do not work out, the mantis cannot move fast enough to escape its attacker. Larger birds with big beaks can easily snap up a mantis once its camouflage has been revealed.
Mariana Crow
- The Mariana crow, Corvus kuaryi, is found in the Mariana islands of Rota and Guam and is an endangered species. It lives mostly in mature forest but can also be found in secondary forest and along the coast. It is an omnivorous bird that feeds mostly on insects and fruit as well as geckos and smaller rats. Praying mantids form a part of its diet as well as grasshoppers and butterfly caterpillars.
Blue Grosbeaks
- While many birds that eat insects will prey on a variety of different insects, praying mantids are a preferred food of blue grosbeaks. This bird will pluck the spiky legs off the praying mantis so that it is easier for her chicks to feed on. The blue grosbeak has a large beak that is mostly used for cracking open seeds but it is also effective in grabbing larger insects. It is usually found in fields and at the edge of woods in the southeastern part of the United States. Its wingspan is 11 inches and its diet consists of seeds in the winter and insects in the summer.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
- The oriental pied hornbill has two sharp points at the end of each mandible that together make up the bird's extremely large bill. As its name suggests, the beak is so large, it looks like a horn. While these birds feed primarily on fruit such as guava, papaya and figs, they will also include bees, grasshoppers, lizards and praying mantids in their diet. Many omnivorous birds are opportunistic feeders and can adapt their diet to include different types of insects.

Insects & Science