There are several types of birds that are known to dive head first into water to catch fish. The main groups of birds that exhibit this fishing behavior are seabirds, wading birds, and kingfishers.
Seabirds That Dive for Fish
Many seabird species are excellent divers and plunge into the ocean to pursue fish and other marine prey. Some of the most common seabirds that dive head first for fish include:
- Gannets
- Boobies
- Cormorants
- Auklets
- Murres
- Puffins
- Penguins
Gannets, boobies, cormorants, auklets, murres, and puffins all belong to the order Suliformes. This order contains diving seabirds with webbed feet. Penguins are highly specialized diving birds in the order Sphenisciformes.
These seabirds have streamlined bodies and wings designed for swimming underwater. They also have waterproof feathers that help insulate them in cold ocean waters. Their feet are webbed or modified into flippers, which provide thrust when diving.
To catch fish, these seabirds fly over the water looking for prey or float on the surface while scanning below. When they spot a fish, they tuck their wings back and plunge head first into the water at speeds up to 60 mph. Their pointed beaks pierce and grip slippery prey.
Gannets
Gannets are large seabirds with long, pointed wings and a yellow head. Northern gannets perform dramatic vertical dives from heights of up to 130 feet to catch fish and squid. They have air sacs in their face and chest that cushion the impact when they hit the water.
Boobies
Boobies are tropical and subtropical seabirds named for their blue feet and dull coloring. Blue-footed boobies and red-footed boobies plunge dive from circling heights of around 65 feet. Brown boobies make shorter dives straight from the ocean’s surface.
Cormorants
Cormorants are common coastal seabirds with slender hooked bills and orange facial skin. They dive and swim underwater to hunt, propelling themselves with their webbed feet. Double-crested cormorants typically dive down around 30 feet to catch small fish.
Auklets
Auklets are small diving seabirds in the family Alcidae. Least auklets, crested auklets, and parakeet auklets swim underwater using their wings and hunt small crustaceans, zooplankton, and small fish.
Murres
Murres are medium-sized seabirds, including common murres and thick-billed murres. They can dive down to depths of over 500 feet in search of herring, capelin, sandlance, and other small fish. Murres use their wings to “fly” swiftly underwater.
Puffins
Puffins are rotund, colorful seabirds in the auk family. Atlantic puffins and horned puffins can dive down 15-60 feet to catch small fish like herring, hake, and sandlance. Their large colorful beaks are well-adapted for holding multiple fish.
Penguins
Penguins are flightless seabirds, but excellent swimmers and divers. Species like the emperor penguin can dive over 1,500 feet deep while hunting Antarctic fish, squid, and krill. Penguins use their flippers to propel through the water.
Wading Birds That Dive for Fish
Some wading bird species plunge dive from the air or standing positions to catch fish in lakes and rivers. Wading birds that are known to dive for fish include:
- Herons
- Egrets
- Bitterns
- Kingfishers
These long-legged wading bird species hunt in shallow water environments. They have pointed bills for spearing fish and long necks for striking. Unlike seabirds, wading birds lack webbed feet.
Herons
Herons are adept at standing motionless in wait for prey. Great blue herons use a rapid neck strike to grab small fish from rivers and pond edges. Some tropical herons like the boat-billed heron dive head first from higher perches for a more forceful impact.
Egrets
Egrets employ a variety of fishing techniques, from patient waiting to active diving. Great egrets and reddish egrets may plunge head first to ambush fish. Tricolored herons have been observed diving from heights up to 15 feet.
Bitterns
Bitterns are secretive herons that inhabit dense wetland vegetation. American bitterns and botaurus bitterns surprise prey by using their camouflage, then spearing fish with quick lunges and bill jabs. They will occasionally dive from flight into the water for added force.
Kingfishers
Kingfishers are riverside birds with bright plumage and dagger-like bills. Belted kingfishers perch overhanging branches, swooping down to dive into the water for small fish. They fold their wings back to minimize splash on impact.
Unique Traits That Aid Diving
Birds that dive head first into water to catch fish have evolved special adaptations that aid their fishing strategy. Some key adaptations include:
- Streamlined bodies to slice smoothly into the water
- Waterproof, insulating feathers
- Bills with sharp points and edges for spearing slippery prey
- Necks, wings, and feet optimized for swimming/diving
- Salt glands to remove salt from swallowed seawater
- Keen eyesight for detecting underwater prey
- Ability to slow down heart rate to conserve oxygen when diving
Seabirds tend to possess more of these adaptations than wading birds. For example, seabirds have webbed or flipper-like feet for swimming, while wading birds have unwebbed feet. But both groups share hunting behaviors centered around plunging dives.
Feeding Behaviors and Strategies
Different diving bird species employ particular feeding strategies and methods:
- Plunge diving from flight – Common technique of gannets, boobies, kingfishers
- Plunge diving from floating on water – Used by cormorants, some penguins
- Plunge diving from a perch – Favored by herons, egrets, bitterns
- Diving from the surface while swimming – Murres, some cormorants
- Pursuit diving while swimming underwater – Penguins, auklets, puffins
The height of the dive may vary from just below the surface to over 100 feet for the highest soaring seabirds. Diving birds try to reduce splash on impact by streamlining their bodies and wings.
Underwater, diving birds propel themselves using wings and/or feet to chase prey. Penguins and murres use their wings to “fly” underwater. Most species swallow fish whole on surfacing.
Habitats
Diving birds inhabit aquatic environments across the world. Key marine habitats include:
- Coastlines – Prime habitat for gannets, cormorants, murres
- Offshore/pelagic waters – Home to boobies, penguins, auklets
- Inshore waters – Used by herons, kingfishers, egrets, bitterns
- Kelp forests – Provide refuge for murres, penguins, other seabirds
Diving birds frequent both saltwater and freshwater habitats. Rivers, ponds, lakes, and wetlands are used by freshwater diving bird species.
Threats and Conservation
Some diving bird species face threats such as:
- Habitat loss
- Overfishing of prey species
- Oil spills
- Disturbance of nesting sites
- Invasive species
- Pollution
- Climate change
Conservation measures like protecting key breeding sites, monitoring populations, managing fisheries sustainably, and reducing pollution and oil spills can help vulnerable diving bird species. Many seabirds and kingfishers have declining populations worldwide.
Outreach and education can also promote greater appreciation for diving birds and their specialized abilities.
Conclusion
Diving headfirst into water to catch fish is an exhilarating hunting strategy employed by specialized seabirds, wading birds, and kingfishers. Plunge diving allows these birds to ambush prey from above with speed and force. Adaptations like streamlined bodies, salt glands, and swimming wings/feet enable diving birds to thrive in aquatic environments across the planet.