Catfish, known for their large size and nocturnal habits, have been spotted leaping out of the Tarn River in Albi, France, during the day—an unusual behavior previously only seen in Spain. Witnesses have recorded these dramatic moments on their phones, showing the fish emerging from the water to catch pigeons perched on the riverbank. This behavior challenges previous assumptions about the catfish's hunting patterns and has sparked interest among scientists, who now consider the Tarn a new area for ecological study. The catfish, introduced to France in the 1980s, has grown to become one of the largest freshwater fish in the region, with some individuals reaching lengths of over two meters. Typically, they prefer deep, shaded waters and hunt at night, targeting fish, crayfish, and small mammals. The recent daytime sightings in Albi, however, show the fish actively hunting birds in full daylight, a behavior that had not been documented in France before. The hunting process involves the catfish spotting a pigeon or other bird on the riverbank. It then swims slowly and discreetly toward the edge of the water before making a sudden, powerful leap, lifting the front half of its body out of the river to grab the bird. The fish then quickly returns to the water. This technique, while energy-intensive and risky, appears to be effective in Albi, where urban pigeons are abundant and the riverbanks are easily accessible. Scientists suggest that the catfish may find birds to be a valuable food source, possibly due to the high nutritional content of such prey. The phenomenon in Albi is one of the first regularly observed instances of this behavior outside of Spain, raising questions about whether it will spread to other parts of France or remain unique to the Tarn River. Researchers are now closely monitoring the area to better understand this unusual adaptation.