Why Don’t We See Dead Birds? What Happens When Birds Die Explained
Sunday, 17 May 2026
Did you know that 7.5 billion landbirds currently call North America home? That’s an awful lot of birds, but here is a question – think about it. When did you last see a dead bird? The adult mortality rate of songbirds is around 45% in their first year, so why is it we don’t see many (or any) dead birds? So, what happens to birds when they die, when they fall off their metaphorical perch?
It seems that behavior changes when a bird senses that it is not long before it slips off its mortal coil. They become lethargic and seek cover. When a bird knows that its health is compromised
it retreats to places where predators are unlikely to spot it. It is an instinctive threat response – to hide
because it even though it is on its way out, it still doesn't want to be killed by a predator. So birds die
in places that you can’t see into - dense foliage often covers them up after death. Even if the bird dies in plain sight, the
average time it is visible is about 30 minutes to 4 hours. Scavengers get them. As well as insect
action, cats and even other birds can come along and pick up the carcass. Watch this fascinating video by Bird Whisper,
which delves into more detail below.
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