Florida Top Ten Photos: #6

The Anhinga is a bird that is hard to avoid in southern Florida. If you're near any type of water, they seem to be around. While at first appearing similar to a cormorant, they are easily distinguished by their longer, straight, pointed bill and long, almost turkey-like tail. Like cormorants, Anhingas often are seen with wings spread on a low branch above water. They spread their wings to help they to dry more quickly.

At one point during our trip we watched an Anhinga attempt to swallow a catfish it had caught. For at least a few minutes it tried to flip the catfish just so that it would begin to slide headfirst down the bird's throat. The problem was that this catfish was just a little bit too large. After repeated attempts (and presumably frustration), it finally gave up and left the catfish on the bank.

Another interesting thing to note about the above picture is the blue orbital (eye) ring on this bird. This is a male in bright breeding plumage. I was surprised to find that though it was only January, the Anhingas were very much in the middle of their nesting season. We saw many nests (fitttingly, on the Anhinga trail in the Everglads), and some with young as well (here a male sits on the nest with chick).