The ladybug is often considered a gardener’s best friend. They prey on pests such as aphids and garden insects that could potentially destroy plants, so they’re essential to have around. But these little critters can also be an annoyance when they take up residence in your home.
Fortunately, there are many birds that eat ladybugs and keep them out of your garden and away from your house! This article explores 10 birds that eat ladybugs, with photos and information about each one.
Table of Contents
Birds That Eat Ladybugs
Barn Swallow
Barn swallows are a widespread, migratory bird in North America. They range from the Canadian Arctic to Central America and south to northern Mexico. Barn swallows are most common in agricultural areas with plenty of vegetation, but they will also inhabit suburban areas.
The swallow’s diet consists mainly of insects, especially small ones such as ladybugs. Barn swallows can eat a lot of large ladybugs in one sitting! They swallow the bugs whole with their large beaks and then quickly break them down so that they can absorb all the nutrients.
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Chimney Swift
The Chimney Swift is a small, swift-flying bird that resides mostly in the United States and Canada. The Chimney Swift’s range extends from the northeastern U.S., through most of Canada and into parts of northern Mexico.
This is a small, swift bird that can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands and prairies. The diet of the Chimney Swift includes insects and other small animals. They are especially fond of eating ladybugs!
Black-billed Magpie
The Black-billed Magpie is a large bird that can be found in the eastern part of North America. The range of this bird includes the east coast, up through the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as southern New England. This magpie prefers to live near bodies of water such as rivers, streams and lakes. It also frequents areas with lots of trees.
The Black-billed Magpie is an omnivore and its diet consists mainly of insects such as ladybugs, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets and bugs. It will also eat small fruits when available. This bird is not afraid to raid nests for eggs or young birds.
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Purple Martin
Purple Martins are one of the most common birds in North America. They range from southern Canada to Central America and across much of the United States. These birds like to live near water, preferably in areas with lots of fruiting trees including apple, cherry, pear, plum and willow trees or other perches for them to build their nests.
Their diet consists mainly of insects, but they will also feed on small vertebrates. These birds enjoy eating ladybugs, which makes them an important part of insect control programs!
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American Crow
The American Crow is a common bird found throughout North America. They have a range that stretches from Alaska to Mexico. In the United States, they are mainly found in the eastern part of the country. Their habitat ranges from open areas such as fields and meadows, to forests and suburbs.
The American Crow feeds mostly on small animals, such as mice and lizards, but will also eat berries and insects. They enjoy eating ladybugs!
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Eastern Kingbird
The Eastern Kingbird is a common bird seen throughout much of the eastern United States. It ranges from Florida to Maine, and can also be found in the Midwest and parts of Canada. The Eastern Kingbird is a migratory bird, spending the winter in Central and South America, before moving into North America in late spring or early summer.
They prefer dense, wooded areas with plenty of perches and nesting sites. Their diet consists mostly of insects, but they will also eat berries and fruit. They are considered a beneficial bird because they feed on many pests, such as mosquitoes, flies and ants. They are also known to enjoy eating ladybugs!
Eastern Bluebird
The eastern bluebird ranges from the Canadian province of New Brunswick south to North Carolina, west to Iowa and Illinois, and north to Maine. This bird can be found in a variety of habitats from near water (rivers, lakes, ponds) to open country.
Eastern bluebirds prefer to feed on insects such as beetles, caterpillars, ladybugs and moths but will also take other small prey such as spiders and frogs. They often forage high in trees, but will also forage on the ground.
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Brown Thrasher
The Brown Thrasher is a common bird in the United States. It ranges from eastern Texas to New England, and throughout much of Canada. The Brown Thrasher is found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous and coniferous forests, open fields, and suburban areas.
The Brown Thrasher feeds on insects, beetles and caterpillars, and they are especially fond of eating ladybugs. It also consumes some berries, nuts, seeds, fruit and sometimes frogs, snakes, lizards.
Eastern Wood Pewee
The Eastern Wood Pewee is a small passerine bird found in the eastern United States and Canada. The Eastern Wood Pewee ranges from the southern Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island east to Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, and north through much of Wisconsin to Ontario.
These small birds are found in a variety of habitats, but prefer moist forests with some open areas. Their diet consists mostly of insects, which they catch by flying through the air or stalking their prey on the ground. They particularly enjoy eating ladybugs, and can often be seen perched atop a ladybug as it crawls across the ground.
Northern Mockingbird
The Northern Mockingbird can be found in all but the most extreme of cold climates. They inhabit a range that spans from southern Canada to Central America, making them one of the most widely distributed songbirds in North America.
This bird is well known for its beautiful vocalizations, which include a variety of notes and whistles. The Northern Mockingbird’s diet consists mainly of insects, which it captures by sifting through leaf litter or catching them in midair. They are also known to enjoy eating ladybugs!
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