ZMT: Daily Fact: Meet the birds that use fire to hunt

Daily Fact: Meet the birds that use fire to hunt

HOME FACTS ARTICLES

Original photo by Nature Picture Library/ Alamy Stock Photo

Certain birds in Australia likely use fire to hunt.

Manipulating fire is an ability unique to humans. Well, humans and "firehawks." In 2017, scientists from Penn State Altoona analyzed tales surrounding the fire-spreading habits of three Australian raptors: black kites (Milvus migrans), whistling kites (Haliastur sphenurus), and brown falcons (Falco berigora). The scientists spent seven years listening to and collecting stories from Indigenous people, rangers, and academics detailing the fiery hunting style of these birds, and concluded that these "firehawks" (a collective word that describes all three birds) intentionally cause fires to flush out prey, whether grasshoppers or rodents. One account describes a particular bird grabbing a brand from an Aboriginal cooking fire and purposefully setting a piece of savanna ablaze a half-kilometer away.

"We're not discovering anything new," lead scientist Mark Bonta told National Geographic in 2018. "Most of the data that we've worked with is collaborative with Aboriginal peoples… They've known this for probably 40,000 years or more." Although Bonta's ethnographic study is conclusive, video evidence of "firehawks" purposefully setting fires — as opposed to taking advantage of already existing fires (which is a known habit) — has yet to surface. However, some ornithologists theorize the birds might be mistaking sticks for prey and dropping them once they realize the error, thus inadvertently starting fires. Other experts, however, agree this avian pyromania is possible, as other raptors have employed similarly clever tricks to obtain food, such as using bread scraps at picnic areas to bait fish.

Your Direct Access to the World's Best Independent Winemakers

When you choose Naked Wines, you're supporting passionate, independent winemakers and helping traditions stay alive while getting access to some of the best wines in the world. The makers believe that wine is more than just a drink — it's an experience to be savored. Best of all, the wine quiz helps the subscription service get more personalized as you drink. Order today to get a curated selection of six wines worth $129.99 for just $49.99, delivered right to your door.

Try Now

Numbers Don't Lie

Percentage of the Australian population that is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

3.8

Number of raptor species worldwide

557

Estimated number of wildfires every year in the U.S.

70,000

Average length (in inches) of the black thighed falconet, the world's smallest raptor

5.9

One of Australia's strangest birds catches prey by imitating a tree.

There are strange birds, and there are tawny frogmouths (Podargus strigoides) — a species of nocturnal bird found throughout Australia and Tasmania. Although they look like owls, frogmouths are actually related to nightjars (another bird known for its nocturnal habits). Although it may not be the prettiest name, "frogmouth" is a descriptive term, as the bird's mouth is many times larger than your average avian's, and its bright yellow hue helps attract and catch insects. But the frogmouth doesn't go hunting — or at least not like most birds. Instead, its mottled brown feathers mimic the bark of old trees while the creature remains remarkably still, sometimes even imitating a branch swaying in the breeze. Once prey comes within striking distance, the frogmouth pounces with its oversized mouth. Tawny frogmouths face a variety of threats — one of them being that the birds need old trees to be effectively camouflaged — but thankfully their population throughout Australia remains stable for now.

Pages

Daily Fact: Meet the birds that use fire to hunt