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Few insects terrify humans like ticks. These parasitic arachnids can be only a few millimeters long, but they can do a lot of damage if left unchecked. Ticks feed on animal blood and can carry many nasty viruses and pathogens. Some tick-borne diseases include typhus, spotted fever, Q fever, and – most commonly – Lyme disease. Thus, ticks often deserve a bad reputation. There are many products that can help prevent tick bites, including sprays, tick-repellent clothing, and more. However, there are a number of natural methods for reducing tick populations. One of the most famous is the introduction of tick-eating animals into the area. Perhaps the most prolific are the numerous tick-feeding birds.
In this article, we will learn about 7 different birds that eat ticks. Specifically, we’ll focus on what makes these birds such great tick predators. After all, you’ll want to know which birds are targeting ticks to keep them nearby! With that said, here are 7 birds that eat ticks.
# 7: duck
Ducks are one of the most abundant water birds in the world. You can find them in almost every corner of the world, from streams and coastlines to garden farms. Mostly omnivorous ducks feed on a variety of plants and animals, from aquatic plants to fish and insects. Along with eating mosquitoes, flies and other pests, ducks also consume large numbers of ticks. They usually pick up ticks when walking on tall grass and can eat huge amounts in one day. Although ducks will not completely eat all the ticks in the area, they can significantly reduce the number of ticks. Unsurprisingly, many farmers keep ducks nearby to reduce the risk of ticks and diseases they carry.
# 6: Guinea fowl
Guinea fowls, also known as domestic speckled chickens, are native to Africa. One of the oldest land birds, the domesticated guinea fowl, is now found all over the world. In the wild, guinea fowls follow herds of animals and consume insects in animal dung and carcasses. Although guinea fowls are not known to be good parents, they are considered one of the most efficient tick-eating birds. In fact, farmers for generations have used guinea fowl as a natural tick repellent. Birds will pick up ticks from nearby herd animals, as well as from tall grass. As soon as the guinea fowl notices a tick, it will grab it with its beak and swallow the insect whole. One guinea fowl can eat thousands of ticks over the course of a year.
# 5: woodpecker
The woodpecker is one of the most recognizable birds in the world, and not just because of Woody’s cartoon character. Woodpeckers make a characteristic thump when they beat trees with their beaks in search of insects. They tend to live in forests and woodlands, although some also live in grasslands and deserts. While some woodpeckers have trouble making holes in trees and houses, others deserve human praise. To be precise, many people value woodpeckers for their ability to reduce tick populations. Woodpeckers use their long, sticky tongues to catch ticks crawling along tree trunks and bushes. In some cases, woodpeckers also use their beak to pierce the bodies of the ticks. Thus, woodpeckers have several methods of dealing with ticks.
# 4: Bikespecker
The goby belongs to the Buphagidae family of songbirds. These small birds are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and tend to inhabit grasslands. Each of the two known species has unique red or yellow eyes and large red or yellow beaks. They get their name from the unusual habit of sitting on their backs in large mammals. It is not uncommon to see them perched on zebras, antelopes, rhinos or wildebeests. Bovine animals graze on insects on top of their host animals, and especially feed on parasites that feed on open wounds. In particular, gobies quickly deal with ticks that feed on their host animals. Along with ticks, pipers also prey on lice and fleas and can deftly remove buried insects with their sharp beaks.
# 3: quail
Common game, quail belongs to the Galliformes family of land birds. They are common throughout most of the world and live in a wide variety of habitats, but usually in grasslands and open spaces. Traditionally for game, many farmers breed quail for commercial production. Quails feed on a variety of insects and plants, but are among the most prolific mite-eating birds. When hunting ticks, they stick their heads in tall grass or bushes and pluck harmful insects from the leaves. Due to their abilities, they can significantly reduce the number of ticks in the yard or field.
# 2: chicken
The chicken is one of the most common pets on the planet. There are more than three times as many chickens as humans, with a global population of over 20 billion. Humans raise chickens for both meat and eggs, and they play an important role in a number of crops. Some people also keep chickens as pets, which is easy to understand given their habitat. Chickens will eat whatever they can catch, although seeds and insects make up the majority of their diet. They will quickly deal with ticks, which makes them quite popular with farmers and herders. Because ticks feed on the blood of other animals, farmers rely on ticks to keep their animals free of ticks. During grazing, chickens peck at the ground with sharp beaks and collect ticks and other insects.
# 1: turkey
The turkey is one of the largest birds in the Galliformes family. Endemic to North America, turkeys are easily recognizable for
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heir size, sound and characteristic braid. There are currently two species: wild turkey and eye turkey. However, turkeys are also commonly used in commercial agriculture, especially for meat, but also for eggs. They usually live in forested areas, but you can also find them in meadows or swamps. Turkeys eat a wide variety of foods, especially fruits, nuts, seeds, and insects. However, it is their appetite for insects, especially mites, that makes them especially popular with farmers. Turkeys eat a lot of mites and can eat tens of thousands in a lifetime.
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