Its no secret that birds can light fires, yet many of us might be suprised to learn that such birds do in fact, exist.

The brown falcon (Falco berigora) also known as a “firehawk” raptor is native to Northern Australia.

The nickname is not by any stretch of the imagination. These birds have the incredible ability to be…

resourceful.

They do after all benefit from fires when certain prey is driven out directly caused by intentional fire.

Birds are highly complex undoubtedly intelligent creatures. People train and work with birds for centuries.

How did birds learn to start fires or how do they go about it?

Researchers have found that these flame thirsty aviators find an existing fire caused by nature or some other man, fetch a stick and carry the newly lit torch to the ground as if it were setting up for the 4th of July.

What does this mean for the rest of the environment?

These birds aren’t a new species. While the data may be unclear as to how long these birds have been in the fire business, one thing is certain, modern humans will need to understand how to survive fire climate much like other species have learned to adapt across the globe when it comes to a wildfire.

Do other birds in the world start fires?