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Fish-eating animals

Otters, seals, dolphins, pelicans, cormorants and herons are examples of fish-eating animals. Fish may be their main food or one part of a varied diet. Fish-eaters include mammals, birds and other fish.

Which animals eat fish?

  • Mammals: otters, harbour seals and sea lions may catch fish as well as other aquatic prey.
  • Cetaceans: dolphins eat fish, while killer whale diets differ greatly among populations. Sperm whales also eat fish, although squid are important prey.
  • Birds: pelicans, cormorants, herons and penguins use different ways to find and capture fish.
  • Birds of prey: bald eagles frequently eat fish. Other eagles mainly eat other prey.
  • Predatory fish: swordfish and great white sharks can eat other fish.

How do they catch food?

Cormorants pursue prey underwater, while herons may wait in shallow water and strike quickly with the bill. Otters forage in water and along banks. Pelicans catch prey with their bills and drain water from the pouch before swallowing.

Not every fish-eating animal lives permanently in water. Some birds hunt from the surface or shore, and marine mammals must surface to breathe.

Diets vary among populations

Some killer whale populations mainly eat fish, while others primarily hunt marine mammals. Food can also change with season, age and local availability. Piscivory means eating fish; many fish-eating animals also eat other food.

Frequently asked questions

Which animals eat fish?

Examples include otters, seals, sea lions, dolphins, pelicans, cormorants and herons. Some birds of prey and predatory fish also eat fish.

Do all killer whales eat the same food?

No. Some populations mainly eat fish, while others mainly eat marine mammals. Diet depends on population and habitat.

Does fish-eating mean eating only fish?

Not necessarily. Fish may dominate the diet or form one part of a more varied diet.