Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Water-Loving Anhinga Bird

By: Tom Berg

Have you ever seen an Anhinga?  They are a warm weather bird, so if you live in the central or northern USA you will likely never see one around home.  You will need to travel to Florida or the Gulf Coast for the best chance at seeing one.  However, during their breeding season they do move north a bit into southeast Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, just to name a few states.  They often move north along the East Coast, too, especially in coastal North and South Carolina.

Anhingas are fairly large birds since they have a wingspan of more than 40 inches, but they are very slender and have an extremely long, thin neck.  Mature males are black in color, while females and juveniles are mostly grayish-tan with darker wings.  They have a very sharp beak which they use to spear fish.  Their beak is yellow, just like their feet.  They also have a long tail which resembles the tail of a wild turkey, so some people call them “water turkeys”.

The anhinga is a water bird, and they are usually observed in or near the water.  When they are not actually in the water, they can be seen perched on a tree branch or stump with their wings spread out to dry.  Their feathers are not waterproof like those of many water birds, but they use this to their advantage when they swim underwater while stalking their favorite food: fish.  In fact, they often swim along the surface mostly submerged, with only their neck and head sticking out of the water.  Many people think they look like a snake in the water.  This has also given them the nickname “snake bird”.

Unlike herons that catch fish while wading in shallow waters (sometimes spearing them), the anhinga spears its fish while it is stealthily swimming underwater.  Anhingas have very dense bones, and since their feathers are not waterproof it is much easier for them to remain underwater than it is for other species of water birds.  They move very slowly beneath the surface, getting close to unsuspecting fish before striking with their long, sharp beak.  They are very skilled hunters!

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