The heron's skillful shark hunting skills

Great blue herons living in California, USA, surprise scientists with their ability to hunt leopard sharks.

A great blue heron holds a leopard shark in its jaws. Photo: Wray Gabel/SFBBO.

Biologists at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) have discovered many unique behaviors in the great blue heron that lives in northern California, including the ability to hunt sharks, Earth Touch News reported.

According to Max Tarjan, director of SFBBO, great blue herons are expert hunters. They feed on a wide variety of prey, including amphibians, reptiles, fish and mammals. “Seeing a heron catch a leopard shark is a rare sight,” said Tarjan.

Unlike its top rival, the heron, the leopard shark is a bottom-feeder, feeding on small creatures like shrimp, crabs, clams, and insects. Its shallow coastal environment makes it an easy target for many other animals. Scientists have occasionally seen herons hunting sharks with a series of powerful beak jabs to the head and gills.

The frequency with which the herons prey on leopard sharks is unclear. Great blue herons sometimes overestimate their ability to swallow long prey and choke to death. The SFBBO team will continue their observations and expect to publish their findings later this year.

According to VNE