Darters | Anhingidae

Slangenhalsvogels | Aningas

A small family of four species found in tropical and subtropical fresh waters. In the region it is represented by the Anhinga, mainly on Cuba and Trinidad and in smaller numbers elsewhere, including the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands. It resembles a slender cormorant with a long, fan-shaped tail and a very long, thin neck. A hinge between the eighth and ninth vertebrae lets the kinked neck spring forward, so that the bird spears fish underwater on its straight, pointed bill. It often swims with the body submerged and only head and neck showing, which earned it the name 'snakebird'. The plumage is wettable, which reduces buoyancy and allows silent stalking underwater; afterwards the bird perches for long periods with wings spread to dry. In flight it alternates flapping with glides and soars on thermals. Anhingas breed in trees over water, often alongside herons and cormorants.