Black Heron: Meet the African bird that makes an umbrella out of its wings for fishing.

Nature is full of amazing surprises and abilities, and videos often "go viral" by showing off the animals' incredible abilities. This is the case of the Black Heron. This bird, which lives in much of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, has a peculiar ability to fish: it uses its wings to form a kind of umbrella, and hooks fish under this improvised 'hut'. It is a skilled hunter, and its technique of using its wings to shade the water is a remarkable adaptation for capturing prey. According to some ornithologists, there are different hypotheses to explain how the covering produced by the heron's wings can help in catching fish. The most widespread is that fish are attracted to the shade because they believe it is a protected place. Another theory holds that the shadow can help the heron see its prey better or even camouflage the heron's shape for the fish. Although the technique of creating shadow with the wings is not unique to the black heron, it is a skill few birds possess. In addition, the black heron is a bird that measures between 55 and 65 cm in length and weighs between 280 and 710 grams, with a wingspan of between 86 and 104 centimeters. Its wings have a small white spot that is particularly visible when the bird is in flight. The legs are grayish and dark, the toes greenish-yellow, very similar to the feet of the Little Egret. The black heron makes its nest in bushes and trees up to 20 meters high, the nest is made of sticks and both sexes contribute to its construction, although most of the material is brought by the male and can vary from 30 centimeters to a meter. The incubation period is 26 to 28 days, the female lays from two to six blue-green eggs, which are incubated by the couple

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