11 Fish That Eat Birds.
- bioworld090
- Feb 24, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 3, 2023
Fish are known to consume a variety of aquatic organisms, but can they also eat birds? The answer is yes, but it is not a common occurrence. While fish may occasionally consume small, aquatic birds, such as ducks or swans, it is not a typical part of their diet. However, there are certain species of fish that have been known to prey on birds. Below, is a list of different species of fish that are known to eat birds.
AFRICAN TIGERFISH
African tigerfish, scientific name Hydrocynus vittatus, is a freshwater fish found in Africa. Its elongated body is silver in colour with thin horizontal black stripes while the caudal fin is red with a black edge.
The males are larger than the females. The male tigerfish can reach a maximum length of 105 cm and the female tigerfish can reach a maximum length of 74 cm.
The African tigerfish is equipped with a total of 16 sharp and conical teeth which they use to grasp and chop on their prey. It is mainly a piscivore which means that it eats fish but the African tigerfish population from the Schroda dam has been documented to hunt on barn swallows.
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NORTHERN PIKE
The northern pike, scientific name Esox lucius, is a carnivorous fish usually found in the brackish and fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere. It is usually an olive-green fish with yellow to white shades along the belly and spots on the sides and fins.
The northern pike possesses sharp, backward-pointing teeth to catch its prey. Small fish and frogs make up most of its diet. The other animals that fall prey to the northern pike are small mammals, leeches, crayfish, insects, small and big birds, and other pikes.
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MUSKELLUNGE
The muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) is the largest member of the pike family. It inhabits the freshwater lakes and rivers of North America. It can grow up to 6 feet in length and weigh over 60 pounds.
Muskellunge is known to be an opportunistic feeder and will eat a wide range of prey. It is capable of swallowing prey up to one-third of its own length. As an ambush predator, it generally waits in cover to surprise and capture its prey. Muskellunge feed primarily on fish, insects, ducklings, frogs, muskrats, and mice.
ALLIGATOR GARFISH
Alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) is the largest species of the gar family and the largest freshwater fish in North America. It is primarily found in freshwater rivers and reservoirs in the southern United States, specifically in the Mississippi River drainage basin and Gulf Coast region. It is native to the Mississippi River drainage basin, and range from southern Illinois and Ohio, through the Mississippi and Missouri River basins, as well as Gulf of Mexico drainages from Florida to Tamaulipas, Mexico.
The upper jaw of an alligator gar has a dual row of large, sharp teeth that are used to impale and hold prey. The alligator gar is an opportunistic feeder and can eat almost anything. It is mainly a piscivore (eats fish) but the diet also includes small mammals, crustaceans, amphibians, carrion, and birds (waterfowl & ducks).
LARGEMOUTH BASS
The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is a freshwater fish that belongs to the Centrarchidae(sunfish) family. It is typically green in color with a light-colored belly. On the sides are present some dark blotches which form a horizontal stripe that runs along the length of the bass. According to International Game Fish Association (IGFA), the largemouth bass's maximum length is 65 cm, and the maximum weight is 10.12 kg. The largemouth bass is an opportunistic feeder, and its diet consists of fish, worms, snails, small mammals, and small water birds. It can sometimes eat young largemouth bass.
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WELS CATFISH
The wels catfish (Silurus glanis) is a large freshwater catfish native to Europe. The skin on its elongated body is slimy and black or greenish-brown in color. It has two whisker-like long barbels on its upper jaw and four small barbels on its lower jaw that are used to detect prey in the water. The wels catfish usually reaches a length of 1.3-1.6 m and a weight of 45kg. However, it can possibly attain a maximum length of over 3 m and a maximum weight of 220 kg. The mouth of wels catfish is lined by numerous small teeth which they use to catch prey.
Video Credit: “Freshwater Killer Whales”: Beaching Behavior of an Alien Fish to Hunt Land Birds | PLOS ONE
The adult wels catfish has a diet that consists of worms, snails, crustaceans, fish, frogs, rodents, and ducks. A population of wels catfish introduced in Tarn River is known to lunge out of the water to catch pigeons which can be seen in the video above.
TAIMEN
Taimen, scientific name Hucho taimen, is a large freshwater fish native to the cold, fast-flowing waters of Siberia and adjacent regions. It is generally olive-green or grey on the head and reddish-brown near the tail. The average length is 70-120 cm, and the weight is 15-30 kg. The maximum length is about 150-180 cm. Hucho taimen is primarily a piscivore (eats fish) but rats and ducks also fall prey to this fish.
MURRAY COD
The Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) is a freshwater fish that inhabits the waters of the Murray-Darling river system. It has an elongated body, a broad head, and a large mouth lined with very small, needle-like teeth. The body colour of Murray cod varies but it is usually green with dark grey or greenish blotches on the head and body. The belly of the Murray cod is white or cream in colour. It usually measures 80-100 cm and can easily grow more than a meter in length. The maximum size, however, is 1.8 m and 113.5 kg. Murray cod's diet is mostly made up of small fish but as an opportunistic feeder, it can eat anything and is known to also eat crustaceans, ducks, cormorants, water dragons, snakes, freshwater turtles, mice, and frogs.
GIANT TREVALLY
The giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) is a large marine fish inhabiting the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is generally silver or grey in colour but males that measure over 20 inches in length are darker. The adult male giant trevally measures 33-39 inches in length. The maximum size a giant trevally is capable of reaching is 67 inches in length and 80 kg in weight.
The giant trevally is an aggressive and clever hunter. It does not only rely on its big size and speed (37 mph), but it also uses some other clever hunting strategies. It uses these hunting strategies in the presence of monk seals or large reef sharks. In the case of monk seals, it swims close to them and attempts to steal the prey from them. In the presence of large reef sharks, it uses them as a tool to ambush prey. The diet of giant trevally includes crustaceans, cephalopods, mollusks, fish, and birds. It is known to leap out of the water to hunt birds such as Sooty tern.
SILVER AROWANA
The silver arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) is a freshwater fish native to South America. It inhabits the Amazon, Essequinto, and Oyapock basins. The silvery, elongated body of the silver arowana is capable of reaching lengths of up to 120 cm. Its dorsal and anal fins run all the way to its caudal fin with which they nearly fuse. It also possesses two barbels. The diet is mostly comprised of snails, crustaceans, insects, spiders, and smaller fish. The other animals that make up its diet are birds, bats, mice, and even snakes. It usually swims near the surface of the water waiting for its prey. It can also jump out of the water to capture its prey and because of this ability, it is also known as the "water monkey" or "silver monkey".
SHARKS
Sharks are the most widely known predators of the sea. Almost no animal is safe from these beasts. Most sharks feed on fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Some species of sharks such as the whale, megamouth, and basking sharks are filter feeders, while some eat mammals and reptiles. There are others such as the bull and tiger sharks that can hunt and eat birds.
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