STRETCHING ITS WINGS

 

 FOR WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY and NATURE NOTES

This anhinga is spreading its wings to dry in the sunshine.  Anhingas, like cormorants, are water birds that don't have water repellent feathers.  That makes them less buoyant and more able to move quickly through the water. And that makes it easier for them to catch their fish dinner.   But they can't fly at all well when their wings become water-soaked, so (after they've eaten) they perch somewhere to dry before moving on to the next meal site.

Anhinga is a Brazilian Indian word that means snake bird.  When you see them in the water, it's easy to tell why they are named that.  We watched a couple  of them slithering through the water where we saw the baby alligators .  For a while we thought that the birds might actually be chasing the babies, but it was probably fish.   

 Both cormorants and anhingas are seen around here.  I think the anhingas are more elegant looking, but they can be hard to tell apart.  

 The cormorant (seen here) has a shorter beak with a downturned hook at the end.  

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Celeste]

Great photos! I had also read that the wingspread in the sun position is supposed to aid their digestion, don't know if it has been proven but they certainly are very cool birds.

[Libby]

I have seen anhingas a lot sunning themselves. They look so odd! The first time I saw one, I thought it had broken something!

[Larry Jordan]

Nice shots of the Anhinga and Cormorant Sallie!

[nature rambles]

A new bird for me, and such interesting info. Very nice photos too!

[Tatjana Parkacheva]

Beautiful post.

Regards and best wishes

[heyBJK]

How cool! I've never seen an Anhinga in person. Nice job!

[Patricia Lichen]

Aha! I remember seeing anhingas sunning themselves, but I didn't realize they don't have water repellent feathers. Love learning new details like this--thanks!

[Mildred]

Great captures! Love the last pic! So beautiful!
Thanks for sharing;o)

***
Hope you are having a nice week****

[springman]

Would love to be in Florida to see these marvelous sights. I did not know they lack oiled feathers to help them swim. Interesting. Great stuff as always Sallie!

[NatureFootstep]

nice shots. I will soon post some too in my Costa Rica blog. It is a very cool bird.

[Nick]

Beautiful shots, Sallie. We see many cormorants here in melbourne too.

[Jewaicious]

What beautiful captures, so filled with wonderful tones and textures.

[EG Wow]

Looks like a BIG bird! :)

[Jenn Jilks]

What an amazing bird! I've never heard of it.
Thanks for highlighting it.
Cheers from Cottage Country!

[Liz]

Thanks for sharing this post. I have learned something new about the non water repellant feathers (it does make sense).
We have Cormorants and Darters in Australia and I have often wondered why they need to dry out their feathers.

[Pam]

Its fun to watch as they dive in the water and then pop up quite a ways away.
Nice captures, Sallie.
cheers :)

[Red Nomad OZ]

Downunder there's the darter - which is also known as the snake bird!! Snap!!

[Stewart M - Australia]

Hi there - very nice post - was just commenting about these two types of bird and here they are!

Cheers - Stewart M

[Lady Fi]

Wow - that first shot is superb! What an amazing sight that must have been.

[Martha]

I agree, the anhinga has a more interesting plumage but I like the beak of the cormorant.

[Hildred]

Wonderful shots and information about these beautiful birds that we would never hope to see here. It must be great to see them shaking the water from their wings, Sallie.

[Carver]

I enjoyed this post so much. The anhinga if a gorgeous bird.

[Rajesh]

Great shots of the bird. First shot timing is perfect.

[Ebie]

Love it! The flapping of its "tails" looks like a fan! Definitely a neat capture!

[Sondra]

Some wonderful info about the Anhinga's they are so Beautiful when you see one up close..Love these Photos!!

[Colin Huggins]

Wonderful shots Sallie.
I have never heard of anhingas! Cormorants seem to be a World wide species. I saw on a nature show on TV that in Japan they are used by the fishermen to catch their fish. Quite amazing - trained cormorants!
Cheers
Colin
Brisbane. Australia.

[eileen]

Hi Sallie, Great post on the Anhinga, they are cool looking birds. I love when they spread out their wings. Great shots.

[Leora]

Such a cool looking bird! I've seen cormorants in parts of New Jersey but not anhinga. Wish I could catch dinner like that. And all I have to do after is dry off my wings?

[Barb]

I like the markings on the Anhinga. Spreading their wings makes it look like they're wearing a cape.

[Boom & Gary]

Great post !! Boom & gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

[Andrew]

A wonderful post Sallie.. every day is a school day for me.
Many thanks for sharing xx

[Michelle]

One stopped here a couple of years ago and the thing about their feathers is interesting..I will add this to Nature Notes when I get the post done Sallie...

[Pat]

Great shots and good info. I didn't know the feathers of an anhinga are not waterproof.

[Geogypsy]

Also makes them more vulnerable to the alligators. Great shots, especially that first one. No the second. OK, all. ;)

[Carletta]

Oops, that should have been oil glands not down. :)

[Carletta]

A waterbird without down - I've learned something today. :)
What a great wingspan - nice capture Sallie!

[TexWisGirl]

wonderful shots! we get cormorants here, but i think we've had a rare anhinga, too. :)

[CameraCruise]

Beautiful shots of a fascinating bird!
Mette

[Crafty Gardener]

fascinating bird

[hazelisles]

Great shots! Fascinating info-including that about the cormorants! I'd never heard of the anhingas!