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;Anhinga rufa | ;Anhinga rufa | ||
| − | [[Image:African_Darter.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by wim de groot]] | + | [[Image:African_Darter.jpg|thumb|350px|right|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== | ==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. | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Anhinga+rufa}} | {{GSearch|Anhinga+rufa}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]] | [[Category:Birds]] | ||
Revision as of 12:18, 13 June 2007
- Anhinga rufa
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.
