Have you ever seen a fish eat a bird? Probably not, but that’s exactly what the Wels catfish is capable of doing. This video from BBC Earth shows a Wels catfish eating a pigeon whole. This astonishing event has become increasingly common for several reasons. Read below to learn more about how this catfish is able to eat birds.
Wels catfish blend in with the background with their darker colors.
©Podolnaya Elena/Shutterstock.com
About the Wels Catfish
The Wels catfish originates in Europe and western Asia. These catfish are one of the largest freshwater fish species in the world. They generally measure between five and six and a half feet in length, with some growing even larger. Their weight varies significantly, often ranging from 100 to 300 pounds. The catfish are dark green or black, with a paler belly. Similar to other catfish species, they have long, eel-like bodies and flat heads with wide mouths. They have two long barbels on the upper jaw and four short ones on the lower. Barbels are sensory organs that resemble whiskers. While they are native to central and eastern Europe, they were introduced to France, as seen in the video, and have become an invasive species.
Why Pigeons?
As seen in the video, the catfish are invasive and have decimated the other fish populations. This resulted in the fish adapting to eat pigeons close to the shore. The oil from the pigeons’ feathers spreads in the water, which helps attract the catfish. The muddiness of the water allows for the catfish to remain somewhat hidden. The catfish uses an explosive attack, bursting from the water and lunging at the bird. The speed catches the bird off guard, allowing the catfish to grab it with its mouth and drag it back into the water. The catfish will then swallow the bird whole. This unusual behavior is not observed in Wels catfish populations elsewhere and is believed to be a learned adaptation. Due to limited food sources, the catfish became desperate enough to try hunting birds, and other catfish learned this technique by observing them.
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