Do Squirrels Eat Bird Eggs? | Squirrels Exclusive Diet
As squirrels are omnivorous, they eat almost all types of foods that fulfill their nutrition demand. Squirrels love to eat both vegetation and meat because of this. As a bird lover, you might want to know that “do squirrels eat bird eggs?”
Squirrels eat more than just peanuts and acorns; they also enjoy eating bird eggs and baby birds to reduce their appetite!!! Yes, you read that correctly. Being omnivores, it’s natural for squirrels.
Squirrels are known for raiding bird nests in trees and they will devour bird eggs and newborn birds. Eggs are a normal element of a squirrel’s diet, according to squirrel living facts, yet this species has not been proven to have a big impact on bird populations.
Here, I will discuss almost everything squirrels eats and more things about this species.
Do Squirrels Eat Bird Eggs and Baby Birds?
Most people believe squirrels are just vegetarians, which is completely false, thus this predatory behavior is often shocking. When given the chance, squirrels will devour bird eggs and young birds.
So I did a quick search to check how often egg-stealing is among squirrels and discovered that almost every species of squirrel does this thing, and when the opportunity arises, each of these squirrels will eat bird eggs and baby birds, including:
- Grey Squirrels
- Red Squirrels
- Flying Squirrels
- Douglas Squirrels
- Ground Squirrels
- Chipmunks
🐿️ Interesting Topic: Chipmunks vs. Ground Squirrels! [Pictures and Chart]
Squirrel eating scrambled egg. Ha! Ha!! Ha!!!
Other Foods on Squirrels’ Diet List
Squirrels, as we all know, prefer to feed themselves by eating nuts and native plants, but they will eat nearly everything. Acorns, tree bark, flowers, fruits, vegetables, insects, and other plants are common foods that they seek out.
But when they are starving, they are not fussy and almost eat anything that is available. More importantly, they eat bird eggs and nestling birds because they look to be edible.
Squirrels Don’t Eat or Shouldn’t Eat
Squirrels aren’t choosy when it comes to food, but they avoid raw garlic, onions, and chili peppers since they are bad for their stomachs. Some people, on the other hand, use these foods in their gardens as squirrel deterrents.
Any types of processed foods, dairy products, confectionery, and chocolates are dangerous for them, since they may upset their digestive tracts.
🐿️ Additional Read: Do Squirrels Poop While They Walk? | The Fun Fact About Squirrel Pooping
Which Birds Are the Most Threatened by Squirrels?
Young birds will always be the most vulnerable to squirrels. This little critter prefers to prey on birds while they are still in the egg or nestling stage.
I’ve included some information regarding which birds are most vulnerable to squirrels in the following section:
- In open forest environments where little shrubby cover has and if birds build their nests above the ground there is a big chance.
- If any birds somehow build their nests in tree forks, particularly those high in the canopy.
- If somehow squirrel population densities are higher in areas where birds make their nest.
- If birds build their nests in areas where squirrels cannot find enough food options to survive, then there is a great chance for the squirrels.
- Songbirds prefer to nest in areas where there are more of them.
- Songbirds choose to nest in areas where there is less food.
🐿️ Read More: Do Squirrels Eat Mealworms? | Surprising Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do Squirrels Eat Baby Birds?
The main reasons for squirrels eating practically anything are convenience and hunger. Squirrels, as we know, spend time climbing through the trees and creating nests, therefore this is an excellent opportunity for them to come upon a bird’s nest carrying eggs or immature birds.
When squirrels are hungry, they may travel out of their way to hunt for food in the trees, and if there isn’t much food in the area, they must work harder to obtain fuel for their busy bodies. More crucially, bird eggs or newborn birds are not only an unusual item in a squirrel’s diet; they also find it a convenient protein-rich meal.
Final Thoughts
So, have you cleared up the thought of “do squirrels eat bird eggs?”
Squirrels are generally thought of as relatively innocuous small animals, but if there isn’t enough food available, they will consume bird eggs and newborn birds.
Somehow, if the squirrels visit your bird feeders, you need to be careful because they can scare the birds away and take all of the food hence squirrel-proofing your feeders is essential.
The best idea you can apply for this is to set up carefully one or more squirrel feeding stations around your yard so they can eat their food from there.
