A video showing a seagull swallowing a squirrel whole has gone viral on the internet, shocking and horrifying many viewers. The video, captures the moment when the hungry bird gobbles up the fluffy black rodent in a snake-like fashion. The squirrel’s hind legs and bushy tail disappear gradually into the gull’s gullet, until nothing is left but a bulging belly. The seagull then flies away as if nothing unusual had happened.
Why is a Seagull Eating a Squirrel?
The video has sparked astonishment and disbelief among many people, who are not used to seeing seagulls as predators that can eat other animals like squirrels. Some have even questioned the authenticity of the video, wondering if it was staged or edited. However, experts say that the video is real and that seagulls are capable of such feats.
Seagulls are known to be scavengers that will eat anything and everything to survive. They have a varied diet that includes fish, insects, worms, eggs, berries, garbage, and even other birds. They are opportunistic feeders and will take advantage of any food source that is available. They are also aggressive and will fight for food with other animals or humans.
How Can a Seagull Fit a Squirrel in Its Stomach?
Birds have a different digestive system than mammals. They do not have teeth or chew their food. Instead, they swallow it whole or break it into smaller pieces with their beaks. They also have a special organ called the crop, which is an extension of the esophagus where they can store excess food and digest it slowly.
From the crop, the food moves to the stomach, which has two parts: the proventriculus and the gizzard. The proventriculus is where the food is softened by gastric acid and digestive enzymes. The gizzard is where the food is ground up by muscular contractions and small stones or grit that the bird ingests. The gizzard acts like a millstone, and helps break down hard or tough food items.
The food then passes to the small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. The waste products move to the large intestine and then to the cloaca, which is the common opening for the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. The waste is expelled from the cloaca as feces or droppings.
The whole process can take several hours or even days, depending on the type and amount of food eaten. In some cases, birds may regurgitate indigestible parts of their food, such as bones, feathers, or fur, as pellets.
The video of the seagull eating the squirrel is a remarkable example of how birds can adapt to different environments and food sources. It also shows how nature can be both fascinating and brutal at the same time.