Size - 34" : Long pointed bill.   Long tail.  Flies with neck outstretched

The Anhinga is a common bird to Charlotte County. It is often found diving in fresh water ponds and canals or drying its feathers in the low overhanging limbs of trees.  The Anhinga is often called the Water Turkey due mostly to the way it fans its tail while swimming after small fish.  This bird is most commonly confused with the Double-crested Cormorant which is also common to Charlotte County.  

 The anhinga is a water bird. It does not have oil glands for waterproofing its feathers like most water birds. When it goes swimming its feathers get wet. This helps it dive and chase fish underwater. However when it is above water, it must spread its wings to dry in the sun. It can fly with wet feathers but not as well. 

It is also known as the snakebird because of its snake-like neck and the fact that sometimes all you can see is the neck and head while it is swimming. The female anhinga is easy to spot. Her neck and chest feathers are much lighter in color than the male.

The anhinga spears his prey with his pointed beak like an arrow. Sometimes the anhinga's thrust is so powerful that the anhinga has to swim to shore and pry the fish off his beak by rubbing it against a rock.

I have found it nesting here in rookeries with Cormorants and Egrets. 

USGS Details

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