Anhinga
Anhinga anhinga
28.2495, -80.7417
Field Notes
Description:
The anhinga is a large bird with a long S-shaped neck and a long pointed bill. The male has grayish-black feathers with a greenish shine to them. They have large wings with silver-white feathers on the top side. Females have a light tan head, neck and chest and a black stomach. Both the male and the female have long fan- shaped tail feathers and sometimes the anhinga is known as the water turkey. The anhinga has poorly developed oil glands and its feathers aren't as waterproof as other water birds are. It will perch in a tree with its wings open to dry its feathers and warm its body.
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/anhinga.htm
Habitat:
Wetlands
Notes:
Using their sharp bills, anhingas spear fish, flip them in the air and swallow them head-first. Sometimes they spear them so hard they have to return to shore with the fish still on their bill, and bang the fish off on a rock.
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