Oriental Darter

Anhinga melanogaster

Family: Anhinga and Darters · Status: Uncommon visitor · Size: 85–97 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Occurs from Pakistan and India through Sri Lanka east to mainland Southeast Asia, the Greater Sundas, the Philippines, Sulawesi, and the western Lesser Sundas.

Identification

Large bird with glossy black body 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. Juvenile has buff and brown in place of white and black. Distinguished from cormorants by the longish slender pointed bill, long thin neck and relatively long tail.

Habitat

Still, shallow inland waters including freshwater lakes, slow-flowing rivers, marshes, swamps, and reservoirs; occasionally tidal inlets with mangroves.

Behaviour

Hunts for fish with body fully submerged and only head and neck above water.