adult male Anhinga in breeding plumage with a fish in its bill. (Anhinga anhinga) Photographed on the Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA.

Anhinga

(Anhinga anhinga)

The Anhinga is sometimes known as the Snake Bird because it swims with its body below the surface of the water with only its snake-like head and neck sticking out. It dives underwater to stalk fish through the vegetation, and then spears one through the side with its sharp, dagger-like bill! Back at the surface, the Anhinga will tossed the speared fish into the air and catch it in its mouth (as seen in this photo) then swallow it whole. If you look closely, you will see the wound in the side of the fish where it was speared.

The Anhinga in the photo above is a male in breeding plumage, photographed at the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades National Park, Florida (USA). See more cool Anhinga pics below!

Female Anhinga in a mangrove tree drying her feathers after a swim. Ding Darling NWR, Sanibel, Florida
Female Anhinga in a mangrove tree drying her feathers after a swim. Ding Darling NWR, Sanibel, Florida
female Anhinga incubating eggs on a nest in Everglades National Park, Florida
Female Anhinga on her nest at the Anhinga Trail, Everglades, Florida.
male and female Anhinga mating ritual, Everglades National Park, Florida
The courtship ritual of “bill scissoring” between a male and female Anhinga at the nest in the Everglades, Florida
Close up of the eye of a female Anhinga in Breeding Plumage. Everglades, Florida, USA.
Close up of the eye of a female Anhinga in Breeding Plumage. Everglades, Florida, USA.

 

The Anhinga can be found as far south as Brazil. Photographed in Palmital, Brazil.
The Anhinga can be found as far south as Brazil. Photographed in Palmital, Brazil.