Pyromaniac birds: these are the firebird species that spread fires according to their own needs, scientists say

Certain birds of prey in Australia—specifically black kites (Milvus migrans), whistling kites (Haliastur sphenurus), and brown falcons (Falco berigora)—have been observed intentionally spreading wildfires to aid in hunting.

These birds, collectively known as “firehawks,” exploit fires to flush out prey such as insects, reptiles, and small mammals. They have been seen picking up smouldering sticks from existing fires and dropping them in unburned areas to ignite new fires, thereby expanding their hunting grounds.

Firehawks have been observed in Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory, with sightings generally made directly by Indigenous peoples of the island continent as well as members of the bushfire service. Indigenous Australians have long recognised and incorporated the fire-spreading actions of these birds into their cultural understanding of the land.

‘They grab burning branches and drop them repeatedly’

However, it is not only Australian raptors that engage in this strange practice. The same has been observed in birds of prey in both West and East Africa, as well as Papua New Guinea, South America (Brazil and Panama), and the United States.

Mark Bonta, one of the authors of a 2017 study published in the Journal of Ethnobiology, explains that “They see smoke and they go. They grab burning branches and drop them repeatedly until they’re able to start a fire across a road, a river, or a human-created firebreak. This is intentional, because they start fires and do this because they need more prey."

Over a number of years, he and his collaborators examined anthropological and ornithological studies for documented interactions among birds, fire, and humans in tropical savannahs worldwide. They also followed up on reported sightings and conducted interviews with individuals across the northern regions, including cattle station managers, firefighters, and field researchers as well as collecting a significant number of accounts from Aboriginal communities as well.

The implications of this behaviour are significant. It challenges the notion that humans are the only species to use fire as a tool and highlights the complex intelligence of these birds. “It’s a fascinating topic of inquiry,” Bonta concluded. “Hopefully it’ll open up a lot of people to start looking for it and inspire ornithologists to get out there.”

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