Examples of birds that eat ticks include black guinea fowl, cattle egret, chicken, crested guinea fowl, and dabbling duck.
Birds may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about creatures that eat ticks, but they are certainly one of the natural predators of these blood-sucking parasites.
Birds that eat ticks are nature’s way of controlling the tick population. By eating ticks, birds reduce the numbers of these parasites, which can help protect people and their pets from tick-borne diseases.
Let us take a look at birds that eat ticks.
Examples of Birds that Eat Ticks
1. Black Guinea Fowl
| Scientific Name | Agelastes niger |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | West Central Africa south of the Sahara |
These birds are native to Africa but have been introduced to other parts of the world, including the United States. They are known to eat ticks, as well as other insects and small animals.
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2. Cattle Egret
| Scientific Name | Bubulcus ibis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | California east to the Great Lakes and Maine and south to the Gulf Coast. It is also found in the tropics, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa |
The cattle egret is a bird of prey that feeds on small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. These birds are often seen near cattle grazing in open fields.
They will also perch on the backs of cows and other animals to eat the ticks that are crawling on them.
Related Article: 11 Birds with White Heads and Black Bodies
3. Chicken
| Scientific Name | Gallus gallus domesticus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
Chickens are known to eat ticks. In fact, they will even eat ticks that are attached to their own bodies. Chickens are thought to be helpful in controlling the tick population because they often roam around in areas where ticks live.
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4. Crested Guinea Fowl
| Scientific Name | Guttera pucherani |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Open forest, woodland and forest-savanna mosaics in sub-Saharan Africa |
The crested guinea fowl is a native of Africa and is related to the pheasant. These birds are about the size of a chicken and have a distinctive crest of feathers on their head. The crested guinea fowl is an omnivore and will eat just about anything, including ticks.
In fact, the crested guinea fowl is so effective at controlling the tick population that it is being considered a possible solution to the tick problem in the southeastern United States.
5. Dabbling Duck
| Scientific Name | Anatinae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | small ponds, rivers, and other shallow waterways, or else they may stay near the shallow, slower edges of larger waterways and swamps |
The dabbling duck is a type of waterfowl that includes species such as the mallard, wood duck, and teal. These ducks feed on aquatic invertebrates, including a variety of ticks. Dabbling ducks may consume up to 50 percent of their body weight in invertebrates each day.
6. Diving Duck
| Scientific Name | Aythyinae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the vast majority nest in the western boreal forest of Canada and Alaska, north to the tree line |
The diving duck is a type of diving duck that is known to eat ticks. These ducks are found in North America and Europe, and they typically feed on fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. However, they will also consume ticks when the opportunity arises.
7. Domestic Duck
| Scientific Name | Anas platyrhynchos domesticus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
Ducks are often kept as backyard pets, and they will readily eat any ticks that they come across. In fact, ducks have been known to help control tick populations in areas where they are allowed to roam freely.
8. Eider
| Scientific Name | Somateria mollissima |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | across Alaska and Canada south to Massachusetts |
The eider is a type of duck that feeds on ticks. These ducks are found in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, where they breed. Eiders eat ticks by foraging for them in the feathers of other birds. When an eider finds a tick, it will swallow the tick whole.
9. Goldeneye
| Scientific Name | Bucephala |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | nest in tree cavities in the boreal forest of Canada and Alaska |
The goldeneye is a type of duck that is known to eat ticks. These ducks are found in North America and Europe. In addition to eating ticks, goldeneyes also consume other insects, such as beetles, flies, and mosquito larvae.
10. Grouse
| Scientific Name | Tetraonini |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | forests from southeastern to northwestern Minnesota |
Grouse are ground-dwelling birds that are found in forests all over the world. In North America, there are several species of grouse, including the ptarmigan, ruffed grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse. Grouse eat a variety of foods, but their diet consists mostly of insects, berries, and seeds.
11. Helmeted Guinea Fowl
| Scientific Name | Numida meleagris |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Africa, mainly south of the Sahara, has been widely introduced, as a domesticated species, into the West Indies, North America, Australia, and Europe |
The Helmeted Guinea Fowl is a native of Africa but has been introduced to other parts of the world, including the United States. These birds are known to eat ticks, as well as many other types of insects.
12. Merganser
| Scientific Name | Mergus merganser |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | British Columbia |
The merganser is a type of duck that is known to eat ticks. These ducks are found in North America, Europe, and Asia. They have long, thin bills that they use to catch fish. But, they will also eat small insects, including ticks.
13. Oxpecker
| Scientific Name | Buphagus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Sub-Saharan Africa |
The red-billed oxpecker is a bird that is well-known for eating ticks. These birds are found in Africa and they feast on the blood of various animals, including zebras, and warthogs.
The oxpecker will land on an animal and search for ticks. Once it finds a tick, it will use its sharp beak to puncture the tick and then drink the blood that oozes out.
Red-billed oxpeckers play an important role in African ecosystems. By eating ticks, they help control the spread of disease. They also help keep animals clean by removing ticks and other parasites from their fur.
14. Partridge
| Scientific Name | Perdix perdix |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East |
The partridge is a bird of the pheasant family. These birds are found in woodlands and often hunt for food on the ground. Partridges eat a variety of foods, including insects, berries, and seeds. In addition to ticks, partridges also eat other parasites, such as lice and fleas.
15. Perching Duck
| Scientific Name | Plectropterus gambensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | The United States and Canada |
The perching duck is a common bird found in North America. This bird has a long neck and bill, which it uses to pluck ticks from the ground. The perching duck also eats other insects, making it a helpful bird to have around if you’re trying to control the tick population.
16. Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Phasianus colchicus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Farms, fields, marsh edges, brush |
The pheasant is a bird of prey that is native to Asia. This bird has a long, curved beak that is perfect for picking ticks off of its prey. Pheasants typically eat small mammals, such as rodents and hares, but they will also consume ticks.
17. Plumed Guinea Fowl
| Scientific Name | Guttera plumifera |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Central Africa |
These birds are native to Africa but have been introduced to other parts of the world, including the United States. Guinea fowl are known for their voracious appetite for ticks. In fact, these birds can eat up to 4000 ticks in a single day.
18. Quail
| Scientific Name | Coturnix coturnix |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa |
The northern bobwhite quail is a North American bird that feeds on ticks. These birds forage for their food on the ground, and their diet consists of insects, seeds, and berries. The quail will eat ticks when they find them.
19. Roadrunners
| Scientific Name | Geococcyx |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California |
These ground-dwelling birds are found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Roadrunners eat a variety of prey, including lizards, snakes, rodents, and, yes, ticks.
Roadrunners have been known to deliberately seek out ticks as a food source. A study published in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology found that roadrunners in Arizona removed an average of 5,000 ticks from the environment each year.
20. Scoter
| Scientific Name | Melanitta nigra |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | sheltered waters from southeastern Alaska to Washington’s Puget Sound, and Quebec and New Brunswick |
The scoter is a type of duck that feeds on ticks. These ducks are found in North America and Europe. In addition to eating ticks, the scoter also eats other insects, crustaceans, and mollusks.
21. Stifftail
| Scientific Name | Oxyura jamaicensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Southern Hemisphere |
The stifftail is a type of bird that is found in North and South America. This bird feeds on a variety of insects, including ticks. The stifftail has a long, skinny beak that it uses to pick ticks off of animals.
22. Teal
| Scientific Name | Anas crecca |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean |
The teal is a small freshwater duck that is found in many parts of the world. These ducks are excellent at controlling the tick population because they eat so many of them. In fact, a single teal can consume more than 100 ticks in a single day.
23. Turkey
| Scientific Name | Meleagris |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America |
The wild turkey is a bird of prey that will eat just about anything, including ticks. These large birds are known to hunt and eat small mammals, reptiles, and even other birds.
24. Vulturine Guinea Fowl
| Scientific Name | Acryllium vulturinum |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania |
The vulturine guinea fowl is a bird of prey that is native to Africa. These birds are known for their striking appearance, with their blue-grey plumage and bare red head and neck. The vulturine guinea fowl is also the largest member of the guinea fowl family.
25. White-breasted Guinea Fowl
| Scientific Name | Agelastes meleagrides |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | subtropical West African forests of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone |
These birds are native to Africa but have been introduced to other parts of the world, including the United States. Guinea fowl are known for their voracious appetite for ticks. In fact, these birds will eat just about anything, including lizards, snakes, and rodents.
26. Woodpecker
| Scientific Name | Picidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | woodlands, savannahs, scrublands, and bamboo forests |
The woodpecker is one of the most effective birds at removing ticks. These birds use their long, sharp beaks to peck at trees, which causes the tree’s bark to loosen and fall off. As the woodpecker pecks, the loose bark exposes any ticks that are hiding beneath it. The woodpecker then eats the exposed ticks.
Conclusion
There are many different animals that eat ticks, including birds, ducks, and even chickens. These animals help to control the tick population by eating them. This is important because ticks can carry diseases that can be harmful to humans and other animals.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.