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Birds and Snakes: Mimicry, Predation, and Survival 

Birds and snakes share a variety of connections shaped by mimicry, predation, and survival. As we celebrate the Year of the Wood Snake, we explore their fascinating interactions in nature.


This Lunar New Year, as we welcome the Year of the Wood Snake, it is the perfect opportunity to explore the fascinating connections between birds and snakes. Despite often being pitted against one another, these two groups of animals share remarkable interactions, adaptations, and evolutionary strategies. From birds that mimic snakes to those that skilfully evade them, nature has woven an intricate tale of survival and ingenuity. Here are five incredible ways birds and snakes are intertwined in our world. 

The Eurasian Wryneck: A Master of Deception 

The Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla), a species of woodpecker, has an extraordinary survival strategy—mimicry. When threatened, this bird twists its head in a serpentine motion like a snake. This uncanny imitation often deters predators, buying the bird precious moments to escape. This form of mimicry, known as Batesian mimicry, is a prime example of how birds and snakes share evolutionary tactics despite being from different taxonomic groups. 

Snake-Eagles: The Ultimate Predator   

Some raptors, such as the Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), have specialized in hunting snakes as their primary food source. Found in parts of Africa, Asia and Europe, these powerful birds of prey possess strong talons and scales on their legs to protect them from snake bites. Their keen eyesight allows them to detect movement from high above, making them formidable hunters of even the most venomous serpents. 

Snakes as Nest Predators

While some birds prey on snakes, the relationship is often reversed. Many snake species, including the African Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) and the Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoletus), are skilled nest raiders. These reptiles have adapted to climbing trees and shrubs to access bird nests, feeding on eggs and chicks. This predator-prey dynamic has driven birds to develop a variety of defensive strategies, such as nesting in colonies, mobbing predators, or choosing nesting sites that are difficult for snakes to reach. 

Birds That Use Snake Skins in their Nests   

Some birds, such as the Myiarchus flycatchers (Myiarchus spp.), have been observed using shed snake skins to line their nests. The reason for this behaviour is still a mystery to science. This unusual behaviour illustrates the unexpected relationships between two animals that we often think of as enemies.  

Birds and Snakes in Folklore 

These varied relationships in nature are reflected in folktales from around the world. In Chinese culture, snakes, 蛇’ (shé) often represent characters of wisdom and longevity similar to the representation of cranes. Sometimes snakes represent love or wealth in stories with birds. In one such story, a snake man marries a young woman. The increased wealth of the young woman consumes her elder sister with jealousy. She kills the young woman and pretends to be her, acting as the snake man’s wife. However, the true wife returns in the form of the bird, singing to her husband to warn him. When the elder sister tries to get rid of the bird, she ultimately meets a horrific end, and the younger sister returns in her human form.  


The complex and dynamic interactions between birds and snakes reveal the ingenuity and adaptability of nature. Whether through mimicry, predation, defence, or evolutionary traits, these two animal groups continue to shape each other’s survival in fascinating ways. As we celebrate the Year of the Wood Snake, let us appreciate the delicate balance of nature and the incredible adaptations that define life on Earth. 

Cover Photo: Short-toed Snake Eagle, Photo from Ashish Tripurwar

Eurasian Wryneck, Photo from Rudmer Zwrver for Shutterstock
African Boonslang, photo from Craig Cordier for Shutterstock
Red-crowned Crane, Photo from Ondrej Prosicky for Shutterstock