Anhinga novaehollandiae
The Australasian Darter, also known as the Australian Darter or Snakebird, is a striking aquatic bird celebrated for its unique hunting strategy and elegant, serpentine movements in water. Averaging 85-97 cm in length with a wingspan of 120 cm, it possesses a long, slender S-shaped neck, a sharp, pointed bill, and fully webbed feet. Males typically exhibit glossy black plumage with fine white dorsal stripes, a prominent white stripe extending from the eye, and a rufous lower face and throat, ...
Found primarily in freshwater wetlands, slow-moving rivers, and estuaries, this species prefers areas with abundant submerged vegetation and surrounding trees for nesting and roosting. It inhabits lowland aquatic environments across its range.
The primary diet consists of fish, which they spear underwater. They may also consume aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, and occasionally small reptiles.
Australasian Darters are diurnal predators, spending their days foraging in calm waters and roosting communally in trees near water sources at night. Their distinctive foraging method involves swimming submerged, propelling themselves with their large webbed feet, and ambushing fish by rapidly ex...
The Australasian Darter is widely distributed across Australia, including Tasmania, and extends into New Guinea and the eastern islands of Indonesia (such as Sulawesi, Timor, and the Lesser Sunda Islands). While primarily a resident species throughout most of its range, local dispersal may occur ...
Least Concern
- Often called the 'Snakebird' due to its habit of swimming with only its head and neck above the water, creating a serpentine appearance. - Unlike cormorants that catch fish in their bills, darters spear their prey with a rapid, powerful thrust of their pointed beak. - Their bones are denser tha...