Fish Active day and night

Fourwing Flyingfish

Hirundichthys affinis

iNaturalist

The Fourwing Flyingfish is a true ocean acrobat, famous for its ability to launch itself from the waves and glide for hundreds of feet. This iridescent blue traveler is a symbol of the Caribbean and a marvel of high-speed marine evolution.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Typically ranges from 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) in length; weight is generally between 0.5 and 1.1 lbs.

palette

Colors

Dorsal side is a vibrant iridescent dark blue or greenish-blue; ventral side (belly) is a stark silvery-white. Pectoral fins are mostly dark with a translucent trailing edge.

visibility

Key Features

Large pectoral and pelvic fins that function as four 'wings'
Deeply forked tail with a significantly longer lower lobe
Sleek, cylindrical body optimized for high-speed aquatic flight

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern Active day and night

brightness_5

Peak hours Dawn and dusk for feeding; night for surface attraction

calendar_month

Season December to June

restaurant

Diet Planktivorous; primarily feeds on zooplankton, small crustaceans, and larval fish found in the ocean's surface layer.

park

Habitat Epipelagic zone of the open ocean, often found near the surface in tropical and subtropical waters.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Fourwing Flyingfish Live?

The Fourwing Flyingfish is native to the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Its primary range extends from the mid-Atlantic United States and the Gulf of Mexico through the Caribbean Sea down to the coastal waters of southern Brazil. Across the ocean, it is also commonly found along the western coast of Africa, particularly from Senegal to Angola, thriving in warm, high-salinity currents.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

8 Countries

45M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

Barbados BR Brazil US United States TT Trinidad and Tobago MX Mexico NG Nigeria VE Venezuela SN Senegal

eco

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

View on iNaturalist open_in_new

Explore more Fish arrow_forward

Behavior

The Fourwing Flyingfish is a marvel of marine evolution, best known for its ability to leap from the water and glide for long distances to evade predators like tuna, dolphins, and marlin. By beating its tail rapidly—up to 50 times per second—against the water's surface, it generates enough lift to remain airborne. Once in the air, it spreads its large pectoral and pelvic fins to catch the wind, often covering distances of over 200 meters in a single glide.

These fish are highly social and are typically found in large schools. They are pelagic, meaning they live in the open ocean, but they frequently move closer to shore to spawn. During spawning, they search for floating debris or mats of sargassum seaweed to attach their sticky, thread-like eggs. They are also notably phototactic, meaning they are naturally drawn to light sources at night, a behavior often utilized by local fishermen and researchers.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

Capturing the Fourwing Flyingfish on camera requires a specialized approach since they are marine animals. If you have a property with a pier, dock, or ocean-facing balcony, mount your camera at a height of 5 to 10 feet above the water line, angled slightly downward toward the horizon. Use a fast shutter speed (at least 1/2000 sec) to freeze the motion of their rapid tail vibrations and gliding 'wings' during a breach from the waves.

To attract these fish to your camera’s field of view at night, use a submersible or surface-mounted LED light. Fourwing Flyingfish are naturally attracted to light sources, which often leads them to leap toward boats or docks. Positioning a light so it illuminates a patch of water approximately 10 to 20 feet from your camera will create a 'stage' where they are likely to congregate or leap. For daytime shots, a circular polarizing filter is essential to cut through the sun's glare on the water's surface, allowing the camera to track the fish just before they break the surface.

Since these fish move at speeds of up to 35 mph (56 km/h), traditional motion triggers on trail cameras may be too slow. Instead, use a camera with a 'pre-roll' or 'high-speed video' function. If you are using an AI-powered camera like those featured on EverydayEarth, ensure it is set to 'continuous burst' mode or high-frame-rate video. During the peak spawning months—typically December through June—look for floating mats of sargassum seaweed or even floating debris, as flyingfish often gather near these to lay their eggs, providing a consistent spot for focused camera placement.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Fourwing Flyingfish.

Atlantic Flyingfish

Larger overall size and a distinct white transverse band on the pectoral fins compared to the Fourwing's clear margins.

Blackwing Flyingfish

Features much darker, almost entirely black pectoral fins and lacks the significantly enlarged pelvic fins of the Fourwing.

Browse all Fish arrow_forward

Frequently Asked Questions

Fourwing Flyingfish are active throughout the day and night, but they are most frequently seen near the surface during dawn and dusk for feeding. At night, they are highly attracted to artificial lights, making after-dark observation from piers or boats particularly effective.

If your 'backyard' is a coastal dock or a boat, the best way to attract Fourwing Flyingfish is by using bright lights at night. They are phototactic and will swim toward or even leap at submerged or surface lights. During the day, providing floating structures or allowing natural sargassum to accumulate can attract them for spawning.

Fourwing Flyingfish are planktivores. They spend their time near the surface filtering out tiny zooplankton, copepods, and small larval crustaceans from the water column using their gills.

They are strictly marine fish and are not found in inland suburban areas. However, they are very common near coastal suburban communities in the Caribbean, Florida, and Brazil, where they can often be seen leaping from the water near beaches, jetties, and piers.

The Fourwing Flyingfish (Hirundichthys affinis) is distinguished by having both enlarged pectoral fins and enlarged pelvic fins, giving it a 'four-winged' silhouette. The Atlantic Flyingfish (Cypselurus melanurus) has a different fin structure and a more prominent white band on its pectoral fins.

Record Fourwing Flyingfish at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo