From Opus

Anhinga rufa

Photo taken by wim de groot in Gambia

Other Names

Snakebird (Anhinga melanogaster); German: Afrikanischer Schlangenhalsvogel; Afrikaans: Slanghalsvoël; French: Anhinga d'Afrique; Spanish Aninga Africana; Italian: Ploto Africano

Identification

An 80 cm tall cormorant like fish-eating species with a very long neck. The male is mainly glossy black with white streaking, but females and immature birds are browner. The African Darter differs in appearance from Indian and American darters most recognizably by its thin white lateral neck stripe against a rufous background colour. The bird pictured is a male; the female has a paler brown neck, with the white stripe fainter or completely absent.

Habitat

It occurs in both saline and fresh water, especially near mangroves. It often swims with only the neck above water.

Diet

They spear their prey (mainly fish but also other aquatic animals e.g. snakes, frogs, crustaceans etc.) underwater as they swim along.

Breeding

This species builds a stick nest in a tree and lays 3-6 eggs. It often nests with herons, egrets and cormorants.

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