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Homescience

Black Heron: A bird that outsmarts fish every time, with this technique

Discover a unique shadow-hunting technique of Black herons also learn about their diet, habitat and extraordinary skills they use to survive in the wild.

Gurpreet Singh | November 13, 2025 / 12:06 IST
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1. Black Heron: Meet the Black Heron, a bird famous for its unique fishing technique called the “canopy feeding” skill. (Image: Canva)
1. Black Heron: Meet the Black Heron, a bird famous for its unique fishing technique called the “canopy feeding” skill. (Image: Canva)
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2. Habitat: These birds live in shallow lakes, rivers, and wetlands across Africa and Madagascar, preferring sunny areas near water. (Image: Canva)
2. Habitat: These birds live in shallow lakes, rivers and wetlands across Africa and Madagascar, preferring sunny areas near water. (Image: Canva)
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3. Patience and Precision: The heron stands still and waits, using incredible patience and precise timing to snatch fish from the water. (Image: Canva)
3. Patience and Precision: The heron stands still and waits, using incredible patience and precise timing to snatch fish from the water. (Image: Canva)
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4. Appearance: The Black Heron is strikingly dark with long legs, a sharp beak and wings perfectly built for fishing. (Image: Canva)
4. Appearance: The Black Heron is strikingly dark with long legs, a sharp beak and wings perfectly built for fishing. (Image: Canva)
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5. Fishing Technique: The Black Heron masters canopy feeding, spreading wings over water to lure fish into its shadow for easy capture. (Image: Canva)
5. Fishing Technique: The Black Heron use a special fish technique where it spread its wings over water to lure fish into its shadow for easy capture. (Image: Canva)
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7. Canopy Feeding: The bird spreads its wings over water to form a shadow, forcing fish toward the center, making hunting easier. (Image: Canva)
6. Canopy Feeding: The bird spreads its wings over water to form a shadow, forcing fish toward the center, making hunting easier. (Image: Canva)
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7. Hunting in Groups: Sometimes Black Herons fish in groups, synchronising wings to maximize shaded area, improving chances of catching more fish. (Image: Canva)
7. Hunting in Groups: Sometimes Black Herons fish in groups, synchronising wings to maximize shaded area, improving chances of catching more fish. (Image: Canva)
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8. Diet: They mainly feed on small fish, frogs and aquatic insects, making them highly skilled predators in shallow waters. (Image: Canva)
8. Diet: They mainly feed on small fish, frogs and aquatic insects, making them highly skilled predators in shallow waters. (Image: Canva)
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9. Social behaviour: Black Herons sometimes coexist with other heron species but maintain their unique fishing method without interference. (Image: Canva)
9. Social behaviour: Black Herons sometimes coexist with other heron species but maintain their unique fishing method without interference. (Image: Canva)
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10. Breeding Season: During breeding, they build stick nests in trees near water and may teach young ones basic fishing skills. (Image: Canva)
10. Breeding Season: During breeding, they build stick nests in trees near water and may teach young ones basic fishing skills. (Image: Canva)

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