Costa Rica American Darter
by Gary Keesler
Title
Costa Rica American Darter
Artist
Gary Keesler
Medium
Photograph - Digital Art Photography
Description
The "Costa Rica American Darter", aka, Anhinga or (Anhinga anhinga), sometimes often called Snakebird, Darter, American Darter, or Water Turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas.
The word anhinga comes from the Brazilian Tupi language and means devil bird or snake bird.
It is a cormorant-like bird with an average body length of 85 cm (33 in), a wingspan of 117 cm (46 in), and a mass of up to 1.35 kg (3.0 lb).
Anhingas and cormorants are tremendously similar as regards their body and leg skeletons.
But unlike the cormorants, anhingas usually inhabit fresh water lakes, rivers, marshes, swamps, and are less often found near salt water.
Anhingas have a more pointed bill than cormorants which allows for them to spear fish.
They have entirely webbed feet, and their legs are short and set far back on the body.
The males boast black and dark brown plumage, a short erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female.
The females have a much paler plumage, and are a bit bigger overall.
It is a dark-plumaged piscivore with a very long neck, and often swims with only the neck above water. While swimming in this style the name Snakebird is apparent, since only the colored neck appears above water the bird looks like a snake ready to strike.
They do not have external nares (nostrils) and breathe solely through their epiglottis.
Nothing like ducks, the Anhinga is not able to waterproof its feathers using oil produced by the uropygial gland.
As a result, feathers can become saturated, making the bird barely buoyant.
Nevertheless, this enables it to dive effortlessly and search for underwater prey, such as fish and amphibians. It can stay down for significant periods.
When necessary, the Anhinga will dry out its wings and feathers, with the resemblance of the semicircular full-spread shape of its group of tail feathers while drying them out, to that of true meleagrine males lending the name "water turkey" to it.
It will perch for long durations with its wings spread to allow the drying course of action, as do cormorants.
If it tries to fly while its wings are soaked, it has great trouble getting off the water and takes off by flapping vigorously while "running" on the water.
This shot was taken in the wild from a boat going up the Tortuguero River canals deep in the rain forest near a village on the Northern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica in the Limon Province.
To see more Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica please visit my galleries URL listed below.
Image photo(s) captured in the wild caused no harm or disturbance to their natural habitats.
All species observed enjoy living free in the wild.
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Uploaded
August 31st, 2013
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Viewed 1,111 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 04/23/2024 at 10:29 AM
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Comments (37)
Randy Rosenberger
As administrator of the Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group, it is with pride and honor that I choose to feature this beautiful piece of your artwork on our homepage! Congratulations on your feature. You are very deserving of this honor. Liked & Faved Randy B. Rosenberger (admin of Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group)
Greta Corens
CONGRATULATIONS! Your stunning image is now featured in the "A PARADISE OF BIRDS" theme of the highly viewed SENSATIONAL ANIMALS group. You are invited to promote this image on the discussion thread. http://fineartamerica.com/groups/sensational-animals-.html?tab=overview
Gary Keesler replied:
Thank you Greta, your views, comments, and features are very highly valued. :-)
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