Anhinga Female Breeding 2018.jpeg

Female Anhinga in breeding plumage approaching for landing at the Venice Rookery in Florida. Long-necked “snake bird” found in wooded swamps, marshes, and p...
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Female Anhinga in breeding plumage approaching for landing at the Venice Rookery in Florida. Long-necked “snake bird” found in wooded swamps, marshes, and ponds.. Dives underwater and spears fish with dagger-like bill. Often swims with only head and neck out of water. Like cormorants, perches out in the open to spread wings and dry feathers because they have no oils in their feathers. (Otherwise they couldn't be the underwater swimmers that are.). Similar shape to cormorants but even longer-tailed with a more sharply pointed bill. Occasionally soars.
I think this is a unique photo as most photographs of anhinga are with their wings spread open to dry in the sun.
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