Quick Answer
The dark long necked bird similar to the cormorant is likely the anhinga. The anhinga is a water bird that resembles the cormorant in appearance and behavior, with some key differences. Like cormorants, anhingas have long snake-like necks and dark plumage. However, an anhinga’s neck and bill are thinner and more pointed. Anhingas also have longer tails and different wing shapes compared to cormorants. While cormorants pursue fish underwater, anhingas spear fish near the surface. Both birds dry their feathers by spreading their wings in the sun.
Anhinga Description
The anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) is a large water bird found in freshwater lakes, ponds, marshes, and rivers in the Americas. Here are some key identification features of the anhinga:
- Long, thin, snake-like neck with a pointed bill
- Slender head and body with a long fan-shaped tail
- Wings have black and white patterned flight feathers
- Dark plumage with silvery streaks on the wings
- Males are larger and have a blacker neck and head
- Females have a brownish neck and striped crown
- Juveniles have streaked underparts
- Size ranges from 28-36 inches (70-90 cm) with a wingspan around 45 inches (115 cm)
- Weighs 2.6-3.3 lbs (1.2-1.5 kg)
When swimming, the anhinga’s long neck sticks out of the water with its body mostly submerged. While perched, it has a hunched posture with its wings spread out to dry. The anhinga is sometimes called the “snake bird” due to its serpentine neck and habit of swimming with just its head above water.
Comparison to Cormorants
Anhingas share some similar traits with cormorants, but can be distinguished by:
Anhinga | Cormorant |
---|---|
Thinner, more pointed bill | Thicker, hooked bill |
Longer, thinner neck | Shorter, thicker neck |
Long fan-shaped tail | Short square-shaped tail |
Spears fish near surface | Pursues fish underwater |
Smaller and more slender | Larger and chunkier |
The anhinga has a more uniform blackish coloration compared to the cormorant which often shows white patches on the head and neck. Anhingas also tend to be more solitary while cormorants are very social birds. Both species often perch with wings spread open to dry their feathers after fishing.
Behavior and Habitat
Anhingas inhabit freshwater lakes, swamps, marshes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers in warm regions. Their range includes:
- Southeastern United States
- Central and South America
- Mexico, Caribbean islands
Anhingas typically swim alone or in small groups while searching for fish. They swim low in the water with just their head and long neck exposed. Once they spot prey near the surface, they spear it with their sharp beak. They do not pursuit dive for fish like cormorants do.
After fishing, anhingas perch on branches, docks, or emergent vegetation and spread their wings to dry. Their feathers are not waterproof, so they cannot stay in the water for extended periods. Anhingas build stick nests near water and lay 2-6 eggs. The male and female take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the young.
Species and Classification
The anhinga belongs to the Anhingidae family which includes 4 living species:
- Anhinga anhinga – found in the Americas
- Anhinga melanogaster – found in sub-Saharan Africa
- Anhinga novaehollandiae – found in Australia and New Guinea
- Anhinga rufa – found in Asia
All anhinga species are very similar in appearance. Some key taxonomy information:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Suliformes
- Family: Anhingidae
- Genus: Anhinga
Anhingas are closely related to cormorants, gannets, boobies, tropicbirds, frigatebirds, and darters. They are sometimes included with cormorants in the order Pelecaniformes. The fossil record shows that anhingas have existed since at least the early Miocene era.
Role in the Ecosystem
As skilled fish hunters, anhingas play an important role in aquatic ecosystems. They help regulate fish populations and move nutrients onto land when they nest and defecate. Fish compose about 90% of the anhinga diet, consisting mainly of sunfish, catfish, suckers, and perch. They also eat aquatic invertebrates like crayfish.
Anhingas must compete for fish with other water birds like herons, egrets, and cormorants. They are preyed on by alligators, crocodiles, birds of prey, raccoons, and other predators. Their eggs and young are vulnerable to crow predation. Overall, anhingas are not considered threatened as a species. However, habitat loss is reducing their breeding range.
Interesting Facts
- The anhinga’s scientific name “anhinga” comes from the Brazilian Tupi language and means “devil bird” or “snake bird”.
- The anhinga spear is a Fijian war club named after the anhinga’s sharp pointed bill.
- Anhinga wings have no eclipse plumage, meaning males and females look alike year-round.
- Anhinga bones are pneumatic, meaning they are hollow and filled with air to provide buoyancy.
- An anhinga’s feathers produce an oil that waterproofs its plumage temporarily while swimming and diving.
- Anhingas have poorly developed preen glands, so they rely on sunning to waterproof their feathers.
- The anhinga can stab prey underwater because it has no external nostrils to worry about water entering.
Conclusion
The anhinga is an elegant water bird adept at spearing fish. Its long neck and habit of swimming low in the water give it a snakelike appearance. While it bears similarities with the more familiar cormorant, the anhinga can be identified by its pointed bill, long tail, and preference for shallow water hunting. Anhingas play an important ecological role and their unique fishing and drying behaviors make them fascinating to observe in wetlands across the warmer Americas.