What Preys on Earthworms?

Earthworms do not possess an internal skeleton or hard exoskeleton and are well-suited for life underground. Many animals in nature view the earthworm as their prey. Species that come into close contact with the ground will eat the worms. An abundance of birds choose to eat earthworms.

  1. American Robins

    • American Robins can be found throughout North America. Open lawns and gardens attract these birds to eat a wide variety of insects and berries. Robins can eat 14 feet of earthworms in one day. They find the earthworms by tilting their head sideways to see. Each eye can be used independently to spot the worms. Although some people believe robins hear earthworms, it is not true. Roughly, 15 to 20 percent of the robin's summer diet is made up of earthworms.

    Owls

    • Owls choose to have a hunting territory away from their day roost. Most owls take advantage of the prey around them and eat what is available. When hunting for food, owls wait for their victim to appear. Swooping down with wings open and forward-stretched talons allow them to grab their prey. It is very easy for owls to adapt their hunting techniques. Since the size of earthworms is small, owls usually eat them immediately.

    American Woodcock

    • American woodcocks live in forests in North America and spend most of their time probing the forest floor for earthworms. Their camouflage allows them to be hidden while they search. Woodcocks have a bill that is well-suited for catching earthworms. To catch the worms, they step heavily and move the soil underneath to expose them. This action by the woodcock also causes the worms to move, which increases their chances of finding earthworms.

    Song Thrush

    • Thrushes frequent a wide variety of habitats including parks, woods and gardens. Their diet consists of plants and animals. These birds can be spotted hopping around picking up earthworms. Thrushes can also crack open snails by smashing them against rocks. This bird species thrive in many areas throughout Britain. Song thrushes can be identified by their dark brown color and white underparts with brown dashes. When in flight, a yellow patch is visible underneath each wing.