325 : Anhinga

Anhinga - Anhinga anhinga

Perhaps the strangest bird encountered for a long time. A reptilian monster that for much of the time struggles to take on the form of a bird. Part of the global family of "Darters" of which there are 4. They do look related to "Cormorants" and they certainly hunt and eat fish below the surface but the comparison ends there. Take a look at an Anhinga grabbing a quick breath while hunting underwater.

The  whole body of the bird is submerged and just the snake-like head is visible as it catches a breath. Sinewy and rope like the bird can twist around underwater to chase and spear its fishy prey. The other views of Anhinga you are likely to get are of them drying out their feathers onshore for an age which must be an important process. Typically a duck or other water bird has strong waterproofing provided by oils and preening. My understanding is that Anhingas who have to swim for a living dispense with this to allow themselves to sink and in order to keep the feathers in working order for flight long hours are spent drying out after each dive.

So not the most attractive of birds but in many respects you have to admire the year's of evolution that turns a perfectly good bird into a snake-necked submarine hunter. Whilst I caught up with this species in Florida they are a bird typically of South America and the waterways and rivers of the tropics. Straight from Jurassic Park.

Anhinga,  Anhinga anhinga
Florida, Orlando Wetland Park
May 2015