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'''Alternative name: Snakebird''' | '''Alternative name: Snakebird''' | ||
| − | [[Image:Oriental_Darter.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Oriental_Darter.jpg|thumb|450px|right| Photo by {{user|Joe+Pan|Joe Pan}}]] |
;[[:Category:Anhinga|Anhinga]] melanogaster | ;[[:Category:Anhinga|Anhinga]] melanogaster | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
Revision as of 19:22, 5 December 2016
Alternative name: Snakebird
- Anhinga melanogaster
Identification
An 80 cm tall cormorant-like species with a very long neck. Has a white lateral neck stripe. The male is mainly glossy black with white streaking, but females and immature birds are browner.
Similar species
African Darter and Australasian Darter
Distribution
From Iraq east to Pakistan, India and to south-eastern Asia, Malay Archipelago and Philippine Islands.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly lumped with African Darter and Australasian Darter.
Habitat
Clean fresh water in lakes and big rivers.
Behaviour
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.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>oriental_darter_call.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Recording by Alok Tewari
Keoladeo National Park, India, Dec-2015
An individual sitting on a dry branch, in front, called twice as we were trying to capture perfect sunset.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Oriental Darter. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Oriental_Darter
External Links
