Anhinga Double- Classification: crested Anhinga anhinga Cormorant Common names: Classification: American anhinga, Phalacrocorax American darter, auritus black darter, snake bird Common names: Double-crested Habitat and cormorant, Sea Distribution: crow, water turkey, water buzzard, crow-duck, Roosts in trees and bushes in freshwater Farallon cormorant, shag, Taunton turkey, swamps, marshes, lakes, slow moving streams, white-crested cormorant sloughs, canals and brackish lagoons, bays and tidal streams near the coasts. Anhingas can Habitat and Distribution: be found from the southeastern U.S. to Found along lakes, rivers, swamps, and coastal Argentina. areas throughout North America (esp. East and Gulf coasts and in Great Lakes regions). Description: Other species found worldwide. Migrates to Size: 28-36 inches tall with 45-48 inch warmer areas in the winter. wingspan, weighing about 3 lb. Color: Black with silvery white wing patches Description: and spots with overall green iridescence. Size: About 26-28 inches long with a 50 inch Females have pale head, neck and breast wingspan. colors, juveniles are brownish. Color: Adults are brownish-black with black Shape: Small, snake-like head and neck, legs and feet. Yellow-orange throat and upper pointed bill, and long-fan-like tail. face. Young may be pale underneath. Shape: Long thin neck and long bill, which is Reproduction: hooked at the tip. Tail is very short and stiff. Male soars and marks potential nest site with Feet are webbed. twigs for courtship. Nest in small communities, often with herons or egrets. Reproduction: May build their own nests or use nests built by Courtship involves splashing, swimming in zig herons and egrets. Nests built with leaves and zags, diving for vegetation to drop near the sticks and are lined with mosses and leaves. female. Cormorants generally nest in large Nests will be located 4-20 feet above the colonies. Nests are built with sticks, twigs and water or land. Nesting occurs mostly from drift material on the ground or in trees close March through May in the Southeastern U.S. to the water. Usually lay 3-4 eggs which are Females lay an average of 4 eggs, which hatch bluish white in color. Male and female share 26-29 days later. the work from nest building to chick feeding. Chicks can live on their own after 10 weeks. Anhinga Double-crested Cormorant Feeding: Feeding: Anhingas dive for prey, mostly fish but may Cormorants may hunt and fish alone or with eat insects, crayfish, snakes, frog eggs, etc. flocks of several hundred birds. They dive up Spears fish with pointed beak, then brings to 60 feet and can stay underwater for more catch to surface and jerks the fish off its bill than a minute, swimming using webbed feet. – swallows fish head first. They eat mostly fish and invertebrates like crayfish. How to distinguish from a cormorant:  “A”nhinga – “A” is a pointed letter and the How to distinguish from and anhinga: anhinga has a pointed beak,  “C”ormorant – “C” is a curved letter and the  “A”lternating flight pattern – both soars cormorant has a curved bill, and flies,  “C”ontinuous flight pattern – cannot soar,  Anhingas lack a yellow color near the bill,  Shorter tail than anhinga,  Anhingas have white spots on the wings,  Stronger swimmer, and and  More likely to take off from water.  Anhingas have longer tails and necks. Interesting facts: Interesting Facts:  For over 2000 years in Asia they have used  Swims with only its head above the water. species of cormorants to help them fish.  Unlike most birds, does not produce oil to They place a ring around the bird’s neck to waterproof its feathers – which allows the prevent it from swallowing the fish. bird to dive deep for prey but requires the  Cormorants are a problem for fish farmers bird to spread its wings to dry out after – they eat millions of dollars in catfish each diving. year from farm ponds.  The word anhinga means ‘water turkey’ – a  Like the anhinga, the cormorant has no oil name given because of the bird’s long tail. glands to waterproof feathers and must  Mating pairs are monogamous. spread their wings to dry out.  Anhingas have been seen performing rituals  May run along the water surface to gain when changing egg incubation duties – they speed for flight. intertwine necks and pass nesting material  Wrap their feet around eggs for when changing positions. incubation.  Males will defend their territory by  The word cormorant is derived from the pecking at each others head and neck. Latin words for ‘sea crow’.  Young chicks still dependent on their  Can maintain higher body temperature than parents will temporarily drop into water anhinga – better suited to cold. and swim away when danger is sensed. Additional Reading: Additional Reading: www.stanfordalumni.org/birdsite/ and museum.nhm.uga.edu/gawildlife/gaww.html www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/factsheets/fs_cormo www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov rants-e.html