Anhinga

Anhinga, male, nonbreeding plumage

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Anhinga, female

Anhinga, swimming

Anhinga, male, breeding plumage

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Other Names
4. Cool Facts
5. Full detailed species account

A bird of southern swamps, the Anhinga is known as the Water-Turkey for its swimming habits and broad tail, and also as the Snake-Bird for its habit of swimming with just its long head and neck sticking out of the water.

Description

• Large, dark water bird.
• Long thin neck.
• Long, thin, pointed bill.
• Long tail.
• Silver patches on wings.

• Size: 75-95 cm (30-37 in)
• Wingspan: 109 cm (43 in)
• Weight: 1325-1350 g (46.77-47.66 ounces)

Sex Differences

Male all black with silver patches on wings, female with brown head and neck.

Sound

A raspy croaking.

Other Names

Anhinga d¿Amérique (French)
Anhinga americana, Pato aguja, Cotua agujita, Cotua real, Bigua vibora (Spanish)
Water-turkey, Snake-bird (English)

Cool Facts

• The Anhinga is frequently seen soaring high in the sky overhead. It is a graceful flier and can travel long distances without flapping its wings, much in the manner of a Turkey Vulture.

Sources used to construct this page:

Frederick, P. C., and D. Siegel-Causey. 2000. Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga). In The Birds of North America, No. 522 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.