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Anhinga

Posted by
Jerry (Tampa, United States) on 24 May 2007 in Animal & Insect.

The Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), sometimes called Snakebird, Darter, American Darter, or Water Turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of North America and South America.

It is a cormorant-like bird with an average body length of 85 cm (35 in), a wingspan of 117 cm (45 in), and a weight of 1,350 g. It is a dark-plumaged fish-eater with a very long neck, and often swims with only the neck above water. When swimming in this style the name Snakebird is apparent, since only the colored neck appears above water the bird looks like a snake ready to strike.

The Anhinga is a member of the darter family, Anhingidae, and is closely related to Indian (Anhinga melanogaster), African (Anhinga rufa), and Australian (Anhinga novaehollandiae) Darters.

The Anhinga's feathers are not waterproofed by oils like those of ducks, and can get waterlogged, causing the bird to become barely buoyant. However, this allows it to dive easily and search for fish under the water. It can stay down for significant periods.

When necessary, the Anhinga will dry out its wings and feathers. It will perch for long periods with its wings spread to allow the drying process, as do cormorants. If it attempts to fly while its wings are wet, it has great difficulty getting off the water and takes off by flapping vigorously while 'running' on the water. Anhinga will often search for food in small groups.

Canon EOS 30D 1/100 second F/8.0 ISO 100 200 mm

Olaide from Fort Collins, United States

Beautiful picture and amazing profile. Well Done friend.

24 May 2007 5:35am

lasiate from Philippines

dommage! il manque le bout du bec

24 May 2007 5:46am

Zing from Hamilton, New Zealand

Cool shot! Nice details and DOF!

24 May 2007 5:49am

Scene by Sharon Photography from Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Fantastic shot!!! Thanks for the great description of the bird - very interesting.

24 May 2007 11:06am

olivier from Paris, France

Very nice capture ! I like this...

24 May 2007 12:16pm

Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States

Marvelous image!

24 May 2007 1:56pm

Jen from Jessup, United States

FANTASTIC!!! Great shot Jerry!!

24 May 2007 2:19pm

Brandi Sims from Madison, AL, United States

beautiful!

24 May 2007 3:20pm

Kairospix from Singapore

very good close-up shot! well captured!

24 May 2007 4:35pm

DTW from Orlando, United States

Very nice!

24 May 2007 4:46pm

Ken McCoy from Orlando-Daytona Beach, FL, United States

Now that one's harder to get close to than the deer :) Beautiful clarity in the eye!

24 May 2007 5:37pm

amy from Rocky Mountain House, AB, Canada

Really like the framing and light on this one! We forget sometimes that you don't need the whole subject in the frame... sometimes it's far better just as you framed it!! ;-)

24 May 2007 8:22pm

Reza from Montreal, Canada

Fascinating close-up! like the details, colors and framing as well.

25 May 2007 12:24am

hCreatives from Santa Clara, United States

I love this shot!

25 May 2007 2:19am

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

Is the same as the cormorant? From the photo and the description that is exactly like the cormorant which is common here.

Beautiful.

26 May 2007 10:58am

Nick Passantino from Bronx, United States

great details in this "portrait". nice one

26 May 2007 6:26pm

Erik from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands

Very lucky composition, with the bird's eye right in the middle. It's all sharpness and held-in pushing power, enhanced by the contrast of the beautiful soft feathers. A jewel of a picture, great!

26 May 2007 7:14pm

joaobelard from Lisboa, Portugal

weird but good

26 May 2007 9:25pm

Double KK Photography from West Richland, United States

awesome photo

25 Jul 2007 1:20pm

@Double KK Photography: Thanks!

Canon EOS 30D
1/100 second
F/8.0
ISO 100
200 mm