Is there a Tarantula that eats baby birds?

Question

Is there a Tarantula that eats baby birds?

Answer 1

Pretty much.

There are several South American Tarantulas, including the Goliath bird eater (Theraphosa blondi), that get big enough to take down songbirds (Up to a foot in diameter and 3/4 of an inch long fangs).  This is how they got there name.  However, this is not what they exclusively, or even regularly, eat.  They feed more on smaller arthropods, small snakes, mice, or lizards.  If they come across a baby bird they would have no problem eating it though.  They eat anything they can overpower, and with their size that gives them a pretty big menu.

Here are some pictures of a hobbyist's pet T. blondi from Arachnoboards.com.  This one is almost full size;

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthre...

Hippybag, that video was a captive raised African tarantula being fed a pre-injured finch in a small cage.  Of course the tarantula will try to take that, but it is not a reasonable example of how tarantulas feed in the wild.  It is better described as a kid who thinks he is a badass because his tarantula would and could eat a pre-injured finch who then uploads it to youtube to shock and impress people.

Answer 2

This one isn't quite a baby bird, but it is being eaten by a tarantula...

Answer 3

I don't know if it is a tarantula, but there are some really HUGE spiders in the jungles of South America that catch and eat baby birds.

Look Here:

http://insects.suite101.com/article.cfm/...

Answer 4

Yes, in the Amazon basin. They're over 10" in diameter.

Answer 5

HOPEFULLY NOT! :(( - _ - _

Answer 6

Yes. Here it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goliath_bir...