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Gannets are among the birdworld's supreme divers. They fish by diving into the sea from heights of up to 100 ft (30 m), achieving speeds of 60 mph (100 km/h) while doing so. And if they misjudge their strike, they'll often pursue prey underwater. Pictured is a northern gannet.
Penguins are superbly adapted to aquatic life. Their wings have evolved to become flippers, which enable them to achieve impressive speeds submerged. They hunt on the go, catching prey with their bills and swallowing it whole while swimming.
Cormorants enjoy an ocean harvest of small eels, fish, and even water snakes. They enter the water by making a characteristic half-jump as they dive, which gives them a more streamlined profile. After dinner, cormorants are frequently seen holding their wings out in the sun.
The puffin is a species of auk and excels at hunting underwater. The birds are distinct in their ability to hold several (sometimes over a dozen) small fish at a time, crosswise in their colorful bill. Pictured is an Atlantic puffin.
Grebes mostly fish in freshwater, though some species opt for a seafood menu in a marine habitat. Grebe species also differ in their feeding ecology. Those with large spear-like bills tend to dive for mid-depth fish, while those with short and stout bills have a preference for catching small aquatic invertebrates. Pictured is a great crested grebe.
Loons are aquatic birds that are happy in saline as well as freshwater environments. Given the chance, though, they'll opt to fish in a clear freshwater lake because they can more easily spy on their prey.
The common murre is a large auk and an amazing pursuit-diver. They maneuver well underwater and can plunge to depths of 100–195 ft (30–60 m).
The kingfisher family numbers 116 species, most blessed with colorful and striking plumage. They are specialist hunters, usually launching themselves from an exposed perch when a prey item is observed and swooping down to snatch it at lightning speed before returning to the same perch. Pictured is the common kingfisher.
The black skimmer is included in this list because while this gull species doesn't actually enter the water to catch prey, it does the next best thing by flying low over the water's surface with the lower mandible skimming the water for small fish. Clever, eh?
Not all ducks are dabbling ducks. That is, those duck species that dip their head underwater and upend their bottoms while feeding on seeds, grains, plants, insects, and worms. Instead, there are other species, for example the smew, who dive for a living.
Contrary to their name, sea ducks, while totally at home on the ocean, are also found in freshwater habitats. Sea duck species number around 21 globally, including the long-tailed duck. Although it feeds close to the surface, this beautiful bird is capable of diving to depths of 200 ft (60 m).
The Pacific and Atlantic coasts are the surf scoter's preferred hunting grounds, where it feeds on aquatic invertebrates. But this sea duck species can also be found inland during the breeding season, foraging in freshwater habitats.
Likewise, the razorbill is so named for the edges of its hooked upper beak, which are very sharp. A member of the auk family, razorbills dive deep into the sea in pursuit of mid-water schooling fish such as herring.
Another sea duck that's also at home on lakes and rivers, the common goldeneye forages underwater for crustaceans, aquatic insects, and mollusks. It will also snack on fish eggs and aquatic plants.
The bufflehead is so named for its oddly bulbous head shape. In fact, the English name is a combination of buffalo and head. In shallow saltwater these ducks will feed predominantly on crustaceans and mollusks. Their freshwater menu lists a variety of insects.
There are 16 species of diving duck. They are found in freshwater habitats such as lakes, ponds, and rivers. Pictured is the lesser scaup. The origin of the name scaup may stem from the bird's preference for feeding on scalp—the Scottish word for clams, oysters, and mussels.
The common pochard is another diving duck. This species feeds on plant material, small fish, mollusks, and other aquatic invertebrates.
The little auk calls the frigid waters of the High Arctic home. Submerged, they gobble up voluminous amounts of crustaceans, especially copepods. Incidentally, the great auk was hunted to extinction in the mid-19th century. Speaking of which, a 2023 article in Science News warned that birds that dive may be at greater risk of extinction because of their highly specialized bodies and behaviors that facilitate diving. These substantial morphological adaptations mean that diving birds may literally become trapped in their ways, especially if their habitat rapidly changes in some negative way.
While most albatross species feed by either scavenging or surface seizing squid, fish, and krill, the graceful light-mantled albatross regularly dives for its dinner, and can plunge below 39 ft (12 m) for the choicest cuts.
A species of cormorant, the European shag is another superb swimmer, a super fast pursuit-diving seabird that feeds on a variety of fish, but predominantly on sand eels.
Terns are the ocean's stealth bombers. Indeed, most tern species hunt fish by diving, often hovering first, before plunging with deadly accuracy to pick off a tidbit under the water's surface. Pictured is a pair of little terns.
This seabird is a close relative of the puffin and will dive to considerable depths to snare fish, with some krill and squid taken as side dishes. It's named for the 'horn' protruding from its bill.
Guillemots are members of the auk family and fish in the open sea, either alone or in small groups. Pictured is a black guillemot about to take flight.
Aptly named diving petrels are auk-like small petrels of the southern oceans. They are predominantly plankton feeders but will occasionally engage their short, powerful wings to dive deeper to take small fish and squid. Pictured is the common diving petrel.
The anhinga, also known as the darter or snakebird, is a large waterbird that stalks its prey underwater. Wetland fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates are greedily taken.
Sources: (Star Tribune) (Science News)
See also: Leggy birds to keep an eye out for
Similarly, the tufted duck feeds mainly by diving, seeking out mollusks, aquatic insects, and some plants. Interestingly, this species will often feed at night.
The majestic king eider spends most of its time at sea in coastal marine ecosystems, diving for mollusks, crustaceans like king crabs, sea urchins, starfish, and sea anemones. But like the scoter, it too will venture inland during the breeding season to forage in freshwater habitats.
Pelicans are equally adept at diving for their dinner. The bird's long beaks and large throat pouches are ideally suited for catching fish. And some species have huge appetites. The great white pelican (pictured) has been recorded taking fish up to 4.1 lbs (1,850 g).
The common merganser is a skilled diver with a hearty appetite. In addition to fish, it will take a wide range of other aquatic prey such as mollusks, crustaceans, worms, insect larvae, and small amphibians.
Diving birds are unique in their deliberate habit of plunging into water in order to seize prey. And while you'd expect the penguin to be superbly adapted to hunt while submerged, there are numerous other birds that have proved themselves fantastic feathered freedivers. So which birds dive the deepest, and what do they feed on?
Click on and plunge through this list of birds that dive for their dinner.
Birds that dive for their dinner
Who are the most skilled feathered freedivers?
LIFESTYLE Wildlife
Diving birds are unique in their deliberate habit of plunging into water in order to seize prey. And while you'd expect the penguin to be superbly adapted to hunt while submerged, there are numerous other birds that have proved themselves fantastic feathered freedivers. So which birds dive the deepest, and what do they feed on?
Click on and plunge through this list of birds that dive for their dinner.