Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)

OTHER NAMES: Snakebird, American Darter, Water Turkey
Latin Etymology: Anhinga (Tupi word approximating "Devil bird") anhinga (Tupi word approximating "Devil bird")

Adult Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) at Alajuela, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Unclear
Weight: 1-1.35kg  /  Length: 89cm  /  Wingspan: 114cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the more widely distributed of the four darter species ranging from the Southern United States in the North to Uruguay in the South. As with the rest of their family they are fishing specialists, particularly favouring warm shallow waters such as rivers and marshland where they dive for fish and other aquatic prey. 

Related Species:
Order: Suliformes
Family: Anhingidae
Genus: Anhinga
SUBSPECIES: A. a. anhinga, A. a. leucogaster

 - Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Anhinga Americana ("American Anhinga")

A widespread but local resident.
 - COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen  over Hotel Robledal, Alajuela

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster)

OTHER NAMES: Indian Darter, Snakebird
Latin Etymology: Anhinga (Tupi word approximating "Devil bird") melanogaster ("black belly")

Adult non-breeding Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 1-1.8kg  /  Length: 85-97cm  /  Wingspan: 120cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The darter family are an unusual cormorant like group of birds with only four extant species; they are broadly cormorant like, but have a distinctive "spearing" feeding style, and sit very low in the water so only their long serpentine neck emerges above the surface.  The Oriental Darter is widely distributed through India and South East Asia, but is considered to be declining due to human effects on it's aquatic habitats.

Related Species:
Order: Suliformes
Family: Anhingidae
Genus: Anhinga
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ស្មោញ ("Smell")

A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common at Prek Toal

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .