See a Close-Up of a Heron Flipping and Crunching a Crab

Herons snack on fish, crabs, insects, and other small creatures. In a recent video, which you can watch below, a juvenile black-crowned night heron crunched down on a crab. You can watch as the bird flips the struggling crab in the air before crushing it between its beak and swallowing it whole. 

Watch the Footage

What Do Herons Eat?

Herons are predatory birds that eat fish, crabs, insects, mollusks, amphibians, lizards, rodents, and other small creatures. The birds are considered carnivores, meaning they eat meat. Typically, they’ll hunt in shallow waters like marshes and shorelines, with their diet primarily consisting of fish. As shown in the video, many herons will also gladly (and easily) consume crabs and other crustaceans. 

What Is a Heron’s Natural Habitat?

Herons reside all across the globe in wetlands, marshes, and mangroves. They can be found in six continents: North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. These birds prefer temperate and tropical climates, and they often hunt prey along coastlines and in shallow water. However, this makes them more vulnerable to habitat loss, as they rely on wetlands for both food and nesting. 

How Do Herons Kill Their Prey?

Herons kill their prey using their razor-sharp beaks. Typically, they catch their prey off-guard by standing in shallow water and waiting for them to surface. Using their strong eyesight, they easily spot their prey, like fish, then impale them with their pointy beaks. From there, they crunch down on and swallow the creature, as shown in the video above.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © flownaksala/iStock via Getty Images