Oriental Darter

Oriental Darter

Scientific Name: Anhinga melanogaster

Malay Name: Kosa-Ular Asia

Chinese Name: 黑腹蛇鹈

Range: Found from Pakistan to India and Southeast Asia.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 85-97 cm

Identification: Distinguished from Cormorant species by the longish slender pointed bill, long thin neck and relatively long tail. Body glossy black with bold white streaks on upper mantle, scapulars and coverts. Head and neck brownish with pale throat and long whitish stripe extending from eye down to neck-side.

Habitat: Lakes, marshes, large rivers and quarry ponds.

Behaviour/Ecology: Hunt for fishes with body fully submerged and only head above water.

Local Status: Uncommon visitor

Conservation Status: Near Threatened (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Sighted at Kranji Reservoir, Bukit Gombak, Pulau Ubin and St John’s Island.

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, Jun 2022, Jul 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 2023, Apr 2023, May 2023, Jun 2023, Jul 2023, Aug 2023, Sep 2023, Oct 2023, Nov 2023, Dec 2023, Jan 2024, Feb 2024, Mar 2024, Apr 2024, May 2024, Jul 2024, Aug 2024, Sep 2024, Oct 2024

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Oriental Darter at Singapore Quarry. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Oriental Darter at Bukit Gombak. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Oriental Darter at Bukit Gombak. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Oriental Darter at Bukit Gombak. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Oriental Darter at Singapore Quarry. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Oriental Darter at Bukit Gombak. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Oriental Darter at Bukit Gombak. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Oriental Darter at Bukit Gombak. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Oriental Darter at Pekan Quarry. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Oriental Darter at Bukit Gombak. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Oriental Darter)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Anhinga melanogaster. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22696712A93582012.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Oriental Darter. Retrieved on December 18, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/oriental-darter.

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