FISH-EATING BIRDS
Birds have evolved a wide variety of adaptations for feeding on fish. Some behavioral adaptations include plunge diving, surface diving, skimming the surface, spearing, and stealing. Beak shapes are highly varied correlating with the different behavioral adaptations. Fish-eating birds tend to have rear facing hooks on their tongues and a well developed proventriculus, the anterior chamber of the stomach. .
African Fish-Eagle
carrying catfish

African Fish-Eagle      Haliaeetus vocifer
Kenya, Lake BaringoAmerican Dipper
with fish in bill - sculpin

American Dipper      Cinclus mexicanus
USA; Utah, Wasatch CoAnhinga
sunfish impaled on bill

Anhinga      Anhinga anhinga
USA; Florida, Everglades National Park, Monroe Co.Anhinga
swallowing sunfish

Anhinga      Anhinga anhinga
USA; Florida, Everglades National Park, Monroe Co.Atlantic Puffin
head-shot, fish in bill

Atlantic Puffin      Fratercula arctica
Atlantic Puffin
flying; fish in beak

Atlantic Puffin      Fratercula arctica
United Kingdom; Scotland, FarnesBald Eagle
hunting over body of water, fish in talons

Bald Eagle      Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Belted Kingfisher
landing at nest hole with fish

Belted Kingfisher      Megaceryle alcyon
Black-faced Spoonbill
large fish in bill

Black-faced Spoonbill      Platalea minor
Hong Kong, Nam Sang WaiBlack Guillemot
gunnel in bill, fish

Black Guillemot      Cepphus grylle
Black Skimmer
with needlefish in bill

Black Skimmer      Rynchops niger
USA; New York, Nickerson Beach, Point LookoutBlack Vulture
eating dead catfish on beach

Black Vulture      Coragyps atratus
Colombia, CamaronesCanvasback
female with fish in bill

Canvasback      Aythya valisineria
Common Tern
red bill, breeding plumage. With puffer fish in bill.

Common Tern      Sterna hirundo
Common Tern
juvenile eating Northern Pipefish, Syngnathus fuscus, on beach

Common Tern      Sterna hirundo
USA; New York, Breezy Point, Gateway NRACommon Tern
eating fish

Common Tern      Sterna hirundo
USA; New York, Long Island, Nassau Co., Nickerson BeachDouble-crested Cormorant
eating goldfish

Double-crested Cormorant      Phalacrocorax auritus
USA; Illinois, Chicago, Lincoln Park, North PondDouble-crested Cormorant
first basic (winter) plumage, large fish in bill

Double-crested Cormorant      Phalacrocorax auritus
Double-crested Cormorant
fish in bill

Double-crested Cormorant      Phalacrocorax auritus
Gray Heron
huge fish in bill

Gray Heron      Ardea cinerea
United Kingdom; England, Strumpshaw Fen RSPB, NorfolkGreat Cormorant
eating large fish

Great Cormorant      Phalacrocorax carbo
Hong Kong, New Territories, Nam Sang WaiGreat Kiskadee
fish in bill

Great Kiskadee      Pitangus sulphuratus
USA; Texas, Hidalgo CountyHorned Grebe
fish in beak - juvenile rock bass

Horned Grebe      Podiceps auritus
USA; Illinois, Chicago, Montrose HarborLaughing Gull
with needlefish

Laughing Gull      Leucophaeus atricilla
USA; Florida, Fred Howard ParkLaughing Gull
eating catfish tight

Laughing Gull      Leucophaeus atricilla
USA; Florida, Fort DeSoto Park, Pinellas Co.Osprey
with fish in talons

Osprey      Pandion haliaetus
USA; New Jersey, Maurice RiverOsprey
fish in talons flounder?

Osprey      Pandion haliaetus
Mexico; Baja Norte, San FelipeOsprey
emerging from water - no fish

Osprey      Pandion haliaetus
United Kingdom; Scotland, highlandsPied-billed Grebe
swallowing fish

Pied-billed Grebe      Podilymbus podiceps
USA; Florida, Boynton Beach, Green Cay WetlandsPied Kingfisher
fish in bill

Pied Kingfisher      Ceryle rudis
Republic of South Africa, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga Prov.Pigeon Guillemot
Flying over water with fish in its mouth

Pigeon Guillemot      Cepphus columba
Canada; British Columbia, VictoriaRed-throated Loon
Adult with fish

Red-throated Loon      Gavia stellata
Finland, VaalaRuddy Turnstone
feeding on fish head

Ruddy Turnstone      Arenaria interpres
USA; Texas, High IslandSnowy Egret
baitfish in bill

Snowy Egret      Egretta thula
USA; Florida, Sanibel Island, Lee Co.Tufted Puffin
head-shot, beak full of fish

Tufted Puffin      Fratercula cirrhata
USA; Alaska, St. Paul Is, Pribilof IslandsTurkey Vulture
with fish

Turkey Vulture      Cathartes aura
USA; Florida, Fort Myers, Lee Co.Western Reef-Heron
with brown eel catfish, Plotusus limbatus in bill

Western Reef-Heron      Egretta gularis
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