# Bats can catch and eat birds mid-flight. A painter may have known that 400 years before scientists

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-12 10:29 UTC · Category: Science · Sources: 4 · Current Velocity: 2.5

## Executive Summary
A 1611 Renaissance painting may have documented bats hunting birds mid-flight centuries before the behavior was scientifically discovered in 2025.

## Intelligence Brief
Scientists recently discovered that bats can catch and eat birds during flight. This behavior was formally identified in 2025, but evidence suggests it may have been captured in a painting from 1611.


Coverage from Smithsonian Magazine, CBC, and The Indian Express emphasizes the gap between the scientific discovery and the historical artistic depiction. IFLScience also reports on the mystery surrounding the painting and its connection to animal behavior.


Future developments depend on whether the hidden animal mystery inside the 1611 painting is fully resolved and how this aligns with the recent scientific findings.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### When was the bat behavior scientifically discovered?
The behavior was discovered in 2025.

### Which painting is being discussed?
A Renaissance painting from 1611.

### What specific behavior is depicted in the artwork?
The painting may show bats catching and eating birds mid-flight.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Does This, Renaissance Painting Show An Animal Behavior Only, Renaissance Painting May Show Animal Behavior Only Recently Discovered A, Comet Is About To Make A Return And Much More This Week, Scientists Just Learned That This Bat Eats Birds Midflight A Renaissance Painter May Have Known About It Hundreds of Years Ago

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFLScience | Does This 400-Year-Old Renaissance Painting Show An Animal Behavior Only ‘Discovered’ In 2025? | 2026-07-10 16:17 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxQYUVmRHdpekJJajNNMmN2R0hTZjhJYmgzZ2FseUNQSEREakdiV1hzZjhrVzJrcGY1M3E1Y3h0eE1oZmt2TWxEY0FYUlNBRW5TMVU2clZSN3ViLWMxd2pSbFJEeGVzbXRBcW84NjVMUHFRSjNFczlBRmIxTmlfdzlEZjYwOEtpY0JHdW9lWWRNZ21xRkZSQUo2Q3hEdmVnR0g1OUk3dUlRbUxfcXhaM1UwMG5xWkVXN0VCWE0zcE1xa3liUQ?oc=5) |
| IFLScience | Renaissance Painting May Show Animal Behavior Only Recently "Discovered", A 10-Kilometer Comet Is About To Make A Return, And Much More This Week | 2026-07-10 16:17 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAJBVV95cUxOcGFRbXZnLUI5LTNhOWpBSkZKVGtYdnB3ckxHMXIyTUwtMU5oYUNKZzNsVW1rYlpyWDJYRDRWWnhFay1JT0x0TE5wYnVJZExGVkFhSGg4YU82cnQ4RUNOYkpIZ21XWUV0Z0JoTjduVFhuUXlWT1Jrbk9mYmpPYjV4RlNrNm11clpIODVVMzVSLU9DYmh3ekhLUFhNX2pfZE9YZnNka3Q4U3ZHZWJwZTJwcmxuR0NlNFFUOWNPcVlINWVPR1pSVVZPM1diZlRKdF84RFAzMC1jcjdqSUtaLTF2ZW1jWWNfTWQ2WVR1UVAxZlh2WWhITC1CRTR6eU5DbC1zSmh0ag?oc=5) |
| The Indian Express | The hidden animal mystery inside a 1611 painting has finally been solved | 2026-07-10 16:17 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1gFBVV95cUxPb3Y3LVJNNVJaY0JjdExuQWo4cWxGOHE0UGJaQ2RxRTY4TlY5MFZzOEwxa2o4MnB2T3A4Um84MS11dm5haGtleEtPbTVKSThxMzVyZi1IM21OODREUHVSVnZFakRnMHBGdW0zdkxVSkQzNDJZb3FNbDJuS2FhejBuRzNyZjBvc0tONHE0N0tOU093Nm92dzZXTEpRdHVLUm0yaUNkcUEzbF9SeGZBdGNDYmdQZzFwbG9EMDNGVENubS1PMlhtUVV1bll4bzNySjUwX0JYcnR3?oc=5) |
| Smithsonian Magazine | Scientists Just Learned That This Bat Eats Birds Midflight. A Renaissance Painter May Have Known About It Hundreds of Years Ago | 2026-07-10 16:17 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwJBVV95cUxNZHZKa3NvYUlrUmV0MHgtUkp1NHJTQkxXVEhNdVVLbzRHUHRQb2sweEg5Nm1RbE42M0JXcDd5dW42ajF6bHR4SXhkTHRzMHRqanRocGJ4QVEwalduZGRQRHAwQm8tM0VuekJOYkFoWHU4TGY2RFlIVTJzMUhHS0k3a191WE9WbXNQQjJLVnhQZEtPT0JQa011NkpwTG9qcG9yMk1ZSmkxd0draXZFeEVOSVhFUHdhMG5SS041Z0VIdHh0cGJQQzF5MUxpbzgwZl85RDloYVE1bG5rOXJsc3NPV1hVbUh1X3dGRUljV1Z5U21HMHZpUzhfeGE4a19YbWx0S2RPZFQ0ZUJHOVE?oc=5) |
| CBC | Bats can catch and eat birds mid-flight. A painter may have known that 400 years before scientists | 2026-07-10 16:17 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxQMGQtUGNLS2sybXN1ZzhLNnlJVW5lQ1g2OFJvQUpUdkJYMjJrNURadjVkZ3Z0VUttRFJxRC1uNVVjWllZZXJ2UERTdEFKaTBfNnFWeXUyX1pjWU5xVFRBRTNiUG4zcWl0b0lGbWRiMzZZc0FJOEpQWWcxVVRDX2sxMA?oc=5) |

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