Visiting with the Neighbors: Meet the Anhinga 4 '08

 Meet the Anhinga

The Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), aka the Snakebird, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. The word anhinga comes from the Brazilian Tupo Language  and means snake bird.

It is a  courmorant -like bird with an average body length of 33 in, a wingspan of (46 in, and a mass of up to (3.0 lb.  I had never seen one before I came to south Carolina, but they are fairly common here. (Possibly because The Anhinga is protected in the US under the Mirgatory Bird Treaty of 1918) ). 

In any case they are quite commonly seen hanging out with cormorants in retaining ponds .  One can tell the two apart by darker color of the cormorant and the stiffer longer  neck of the Anhinga.

It is a dark-plumaged with a very long neck, and often swims with only the neck above water. When swimming in this style the name Snakebird is apparent, since only the colored neck appears above water the bird looks like a snake ready to strike.

Unlike ducks, the Anhinga is not able to waterproof its feathers using oil produced by the uropygial gland. Consequently, feathers can become waterlogged, making the bird barely able to float. 

 However, this allows it to dive easily and search for underwater prey, such as fish and frogs. It can stay down for significant periods.

 When necessary, the Anhinga will dry out its wings and feathers, with the resemblance of the semicircular full-spread shape of its group of tail feathers while drying them out, leading to another of its common names "water turkey" .. It will perch for long periods with its wings spread to allow the drying process, as do cormorants. 

 If it attempts to fly while its wings are wet, it has great difficulty getting off the water and takes off by flapping vigorously while "running" on the water. They are fascinating birds to watch, but hard to get close to.  No matter how slowly  and quietly one approaches, they always duck under water and disappear when I get near.