The Oriental Darter or Indian Darter (Anhinga
melanogaster ), sometimes called Snakebird, is a water bird of tropical South
Asia and Southeast Asia. It is a cormorant-like species that has a very long
neck. It often swims with only the neck above water. It is a fish-eater. It
inhabits shallow inland wetlands including lakes, rivers, swamps and
reservoirs. A small family of only four species of cormorant-like birds, one in
the Neotropics, one in Africa, one in Asia, and one in Australia. .
Anhingas chase fish underwater and can remain submerged for long periods. The neck is very long and snake-like. Unlike cormorants, Anhingas have straight, dagger-shaped bills, but like cormorants, their feathers become waterlogged and they spend a lot of time standing in the sun drying their outstretched wings. Unmistakable, large (84cm), waterbird with very long, slender neck and small narrow head. Head and neck brown with white chin stripe extending down side of neck. Rest of plumage blackish with white plume-like covert feathers, with black edges. Iris - brown; bill - yellowish brown, black culmen ridge; feet - grey.
It is a quiet bird with a voice rattling and clicking calls. Screams during courtship. In Malaysia there are sighting in Kinta Nature Park in Bidor and Borneo. it remains a vagrant visitor to our rivers and ex-mining ponds but has apparently disappeared from most coastal areas.
My photos were shot at Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary TonLe Sap Cambodia. There they are protected and conservation vie NGO give life line to these beautiful birds. Currently there are a few hundred breeding birds there.It lives in large stretches of clean fresh water in lakes and big rivers where it is an amazing diver, spending long periods under water. It can reduce buoyancy so that only the head comes out of the water but, thus waterlogged, has difficulty running and flapping over the water to get airborne. Spends many hours sitting on an exposed perch with wings\held out to dry; roosts communally in open trees. The Oriental Darter differs in appearance from American darters most recognisably by its white lateral neck stripe. It builds a stick nest in a tree and lays 3-6 eggs.
Anhingas chase fish underwater and can remain submerged for long periods. The neck is very long and snake-like. Unlike cormorants, Anhingas have straight, dagger-shaped bills, but like cormorants, their feathers become waterlogged and they spend a lot of time standing in the sun drying their outstretched wings. Unmistakable, large (84cm), waterbird with very long, slender neck and small narrow head. Head and neck brown with white chin stripe extending down side of neck. Rest of plumage blackish with white plume-like covert feathers, with black edges. Iris - brown; bill - yellowish brown, black culmen ridge; feet - grey.
It is a quiet bird with a voice rattling and clicking calls. Screams during courtship. In Malaysia there are sighting in Kinta Nature Park in Bidor and Borneo. it remains a vagrant visitor to our rivers and ex-mining ponds but has apparently disappeared from most coastal areas.
My photos were shot at Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary TonLe Sap Cambodia. There they are protected and conservation vie NGO give life line to these beautiful birds. Currently there are a few hundred breeding birds there.It lives in large stretches of clean fresh water in lakes and big rivers where it is an amazing diver, spending long periods under water. It can reduce buoyancy so that only the head comes out of the water but, thus waterlogged, has difficulty running and flapping over the water to get airborne. Spends many hours sitting on an exposed perch with wings\held out to dry; roosts communally in open trees. The Oriental Darter differs in appearance from American darters most recognisably by its white lateral neck stripe. It builds a stick nest in a tree and lays 3-6 eggs.
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