Anhinga protecting her nest
Anhinga, immature
Female Anhinga
Male Anhinga with windblown hair
Male Anhinga with pond reflection
Male Anhinga
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)

These birds who live mostly near freshwater ponds, are known in some areas as the “Snakebird” because when it swims submerged except for the head and neck, it looks just a like a snake swimming through the water. The have a very long, slender neck and a long thin tale. Their bill is long and serrated. The male has an almost iridescent greenish look. The female has a light brown neck and breast that is set off sharply from her black belly.


This female Anhinga, (on the left) who was perched right above her nest, was bearing her fangs (metaphorically) at a heron that had landed in a nearby tree. After a minute, she left the nest and chased him away to a more distant tree.  All of the Anhingas here were photographed in Lake County, Florida.

The male Anhinga above may look a little wild but it was just the wind blowing his fine head feathers.
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On the left is a young Anhinga that has not yet flown. You can see the nest right below him. He's got his mouth open calling for a parent to bring him something to eat. You can tell he's young, and not an adult female, because his entire belly area is a light cream color.

On the right is an adult male who was perched on a stump in the middle of the pond drying his feathers. Like the Cormorant, they lack oil glands so they must sit with their wings open to dry them.

To the left is a female Anhinga that I came upon as I was crossing a foot bridge. I didn't see her until I was almost on her and she was upset at me for disturbing her fishing. She was telling me that if any fish came out of that pond, they were going in her beak and not mine.

To the right is a close up of a male Anhinga's head.

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