Anhinga

American Anhinga ♂ (Anhinga anhinga )

The American Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga ), is a species of bird from the order Pelecaniformes the ( Pelecaniformes ) forms. The greatest similarity to the cormorants ( Phalacrocoracidae ). He lives in the warmer regions of North and South America.

Full grown reaches the American Anhinga a body length of about 85 centimeters and weigh 1,350 grams. It is with him a dunkelgefiederten fish -eater with a very long neck. He often swims so that only the neck and head above the water are visible.

The plumage of the snake neck bird is not waterproof due to oils such as in the duck. It can be so wet that he hardly is buoyant and has problems to rise into the air. However, these plumage feature allows him to be able to dive very well and hunt under water for fish. After hunting the American Anhinga dries similar to the cormorant, by sitting with outstretched wings in the sun. Very often one can observe this species here as it hunts together with others of its kind for fish.