These Birds Use Fire To Catch Prey
By: NDTVNewsDesk
Image: Pexels
Certain birds, known as "firehawks" (including black kites, whistling kites, and brown falcons), intentionally use fire to hunt.
Image: Pexels
They carry burning twigs to ignite new fires, flushing out insects and small animals for an easy meal.
Image: Pexels
These raptors congregate around existing wildfires or controlled burns.
Image: Pexels
They pick up smoldering sticks or burning twigs with their beaks or talons.
Image: Pexels
They fly to unburned areas and drop the burning material to start new, smaller fires.
Image: Pexels
As the flames spread, insects, lizards, rodents, and other small creatures flee the fire.
Image: Pexels
This makes them vulnerable targets for the birds to swoop down and catch.
Image: Pexels
This is a rare example of intentional fire manipulation for survival in the animal kingdom.
Image: Pexels
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