There are several types of birds that are specialized to dive from the air into bodies of water to catch fish. The main groups of birds that exhibit this aerial fishing behavior are certain species of raptors, seabirds, and kingfishers.
Birds of Prey that Dive for Fish
Among birds of prey, ospreys and fish eagles are the species most adapted for diving into water to prey on fish. Both have specialized adaptations like oily feathers for waterproofing, reversible outer toes, and sharp talons for grabbing slippery fish.
Ospreys
Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are medium-large raptors found worldwide near large bodies of water. They are also known as sea hawks or fish hawks. Ospreys have narrow wingspans of up to 6 feet that help them dive and pluck fish from the water. Their toes are spiked with small barbs to help them grip fish. Ospreys will either hover above the water and then plunge feet first to grab fish near the surface, or they will perform shallow dives where they plunge halfway into the water to snatch fish below.
Fish Eagles
Fish eagles are large eagles that inhabit lakes, rivers, and coastal areas where they forage for fish. There are several species found around the world, including:
- Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) – North America
- African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) – Sub-Saharan Africa
- Steller’s sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) – North Pacific coasts of Russia, Korea, and Japan
- White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) – Europe, Asia, Greenland
Similar to ospreys, fish eagles will either hover above the water before diving vertically to snatch prey, or they will swoop low and plunge partway into the water feet-first. Their large sharp talons help them snag fish near the surface. Bald eagles have been recorded diving up to 2-3 feet deep to catch fish.
Seabirds that Dive for Fish
In addition to raptors, many seabird species are excellent at diving from the air into water to catch fish and other marine prey. Compared to birds of prey, seabirds that dive for fish often have more streamlined body shapes to help propel them underwater.
Gannets
Gannets are large seabirds with cigar-shaped bodies and long pointed wings. They perform dramatic vertical dives from heights of up to 130 feet to plunge deep into the ocean after fish. Northern gannets (Morus bassanus) can dive up to 25 feet deep, while Australasian gannets (Morus serrator) can reach depths of 75 feet.
Boobies
Boobies are tropical and semitropical seabirds named for their blue feet and comical appearance on land. However, they transform into speedy aerodynamic fishers over water. Boobies will spot fish from the air, hover briefly, and then execute steep dives, piercing the water at speeds up to 60 mph. Blue-footed boobies and red-footed boobies can dive up to 20 feet below the surface.
Terns
Terns are small-to-medium sized seabirds found worldwide. Many tern species like the common tern (Sterna hirundo) and Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) are aerial plunge divers that fish by diving beak-first into the water. Most terns only dive 1-2 feet deep, but some large terns like the Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) can plunge up to 6 feet deep.
Skimmers
Skimmers are odd-looking tern relatives with oversized lower mandibles that they use to skim the water’s surface while flying to catch fish. They also aerially plunge dive up to 20 inches deep. The black skimmer (Rynchops niger) is widespread along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America.
Kingfishers that Plunge Dive
Kingfishers are compact birds ranging in size from the massive laughing kookaburra to the tiny African pygmy kingfisher. Most species hunt for fish and aquatic prey near water. Kingfishers perch on branches or poles overlooking the water. When they spot prey, they perform nearly vertical dives, plunging headfirst to snatch fish and insects before returning swiftly to their perch.
Belted Kingfisher
The belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a stocky large-headed kingfisher that inhabits lakes, rivers, and coastal areas across North America. It perches quietly until sighting a fish, then dives head-first from its perch, sometimes diving completely underwater for several seconds in pursuit of fish.
Common Kingfisher
The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is a brightly colored small kingfisher widespread across Eurasia. It frequents slow-moving waterways and lakes and dives headfirst into the water to catch aquatic insects, crustaceans and small fish. Compared to other kingfishers, the common kingfisher only skims the surface and dives to shallow depths of 1-2 feet.
| Bird Group | Example Species | Diving Method | Maximum Dive Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey | Osprey | Plunge feet-first | 3 feet |
| Fish Eagle | Bald Eagle | Plunge feet-first | 6 feet |
| Gannet | Northern Gannet | Plunge vertically | 25 feet |
| Booby | Blue-footed Booby | Steep plunge dive | 20 feet |
| Tern | Caspian Tern | Plunge head-first | 6 feet |
| Kingfisher | Belted Kingfisher | Vertical headfirst dive | Several feet |
Conclusion
In summary, the main groups of birds that specialize in diving from the air into water to catch fish are certain raptors (ospreys, eagles), seabirds (gannets, boobies, terns, skimmers), and kingfishers. While hunting methods vary, they generally involve a plunging dive of some kind, whether feet-first, head-first, or vertically. Diving depths range from just below the surface to over 20 feet for some seabirds. Their adaptations for aerial fishing include streamlined bodies, water-repellent feathers, sharp talons, and precision flying skills.
