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 Baringo

American Dipper

with fish in bill - sculpin

American Dipper      Cinclus mexicanus

USA; Utah, Wasatch Co

Anhinga

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, Farnes

Bald 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 Wai

Black 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 Lookout

Black Vulture

eating dead catfish on beach

Black Vulture      Coragyps atratus

Colombia, Camarones

Canvasback

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 NRA

Common Tern

eating fish

Common Tern      Sterna hirundo

USA; New York, Long Island, Nassau Co., Nickerson Beach

Double-crested Cormorant

eating goldfish

Double-crested Cormorant      Phalacrocorax auritus

USA; Illinois, Chicago, Lincoln Park, North Pond

Double-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, Norfolk

Great Cormorant

eating large fish

Great Cormorant      Phalacrocorax carbo

Hong Kong, New Territories, Nam Sang Wai

Great Kiskadee

fish in bill

Great Kiskadee      Pitangus sulphuratus

USA; Texas, Hidalgo County

Horned Grebe

fish in beak - juvenile rock bass

Horned Grebe      Podiceps auritus

USA; Illinois, Chicago, Montrose Harbor

Laughing Gull

with needlefish

Laughing Gull      Leucophaeus atricilla

USA; Florida, Fred Howard Park

Laughing 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 River

Osprey

fish in talons flounder?

Osprey      Pandion haliaetus

Mexico; Baja Norte, San Felipe

Osprey

emerging from water - no fish

Osprey      Pandion haliaetus

United Kingdom; Scotland, highlands

Pied-billed Grebe

swallowing fish

Pied-billed Grebe      Podilymbus podiceps

USA; Florida, Boynton Beach, Green Cay Wetlands

Pied 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, Victoria

Red-throated Loon

Adult with fish

Red-throated Loon      Gavia stellata

Finland, Vaala

Ruddy Turnstone

feeding on fish head

Ruddy Turnstone      Arenaria interpres

USA; Texas, High Island

Snowy 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 Islands

Turkey 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

Oman, Dhofar