These birds are highly territorial, engaging in exaggerated displays when defending their nest site: spreading their wings and snapping their beak to threaten an intruder, leading to a fight if necessary, pecking each other on the neck and head. The vertebrae in an anhinga’s neck have a structure to allow the powerful stabs they need to make to spear fish using their sharp bill. Anhingas are diurnal and solitary, but may gather with cormorants, herons, ibises and storks. Here's what it does: The anhinga lowers the fish and then whips its head upward -- a expertly executed movement -- to fling and dislodge the bluegill from its bill. They must also have multiple perches to bask on, including those close to the water and easily accessible. Anhingas are carnivores (piscivores), they mostly eat fish, but will also feed on aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, insects, and reptiles. Anhingas are monogamous, forming strong pair bonds, which last for life. Anhinga parents first feed chicks by dripping regurgitated fish and fluid directly into their open bills. Cormorants can also live in colder habitats, and migrate in the winter to warmer areas. Anhingas live in tropical and subtropical areas. Being members of the family of darters, they are related to cormorants and pelicans. "Anhinga" come from the Tupi language of Brazil and means snake bird or devil bird. It also consumes crayfish, insects, and frog eggs, among other creatures. Anhingas use their long, sharp bills to spear fish rather than to catch them (see photos below), sometimes using only the upper jaw for smaller fish, both jaws for larger prey. Anhingas are carnivores (piscivores), they mostly eat fish, but will also feed on aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, insects, and reptiles. Because of this, it would be impractical to own one as a pet. (del Hoyo, et al., 1992) Positive Impacts; food; Economic Importance for Humans: Negative. Also aquatic insects, crayfish, shrimp, sometimes snakes, baby alligators, small turtles. Habitat of Anhinga. They target slow moving fish species, like perches, sunfishes, killifish, carps, and more. Spears fish with pointed beak, then brings catch to surface and jerks the fish off its bill – swallows fish head first. These birds live in North, Central, and South America. Breeding is seasonal in North America. They alternate between swimming in search of prey, and perching in a sunny spot to dry off. In latitudes which are sub-tropical or tropical, breeding can be throughout the year, or triggered by dry or wet seasons. Cormorants have a flatter, less pointed, and yellower bill. In addition to fish, they also prey on insects, insect larvae, shrimp, crabs, and more. How to distinguish from a cormorant: “A”nhinga – “A” is a pointed letter and the Within that range, researchers split their population into two separate subspecies. They prefer regions with dense vegetation on the shores. Sometimes an Anhinga’s thrust is so powerful that it has to swim to shore and pry the fish off its beak by rubbing it against a rock. (del Hoyo, et al., 1992) Positive Impacts; food; Economic Importance for Humans: Negative. Once the prey is impaled, they'll manuever the fish, sometimes tossing it in the air multiple time to get it head first so they can swallow it whole. Zookeepers feed this species a variety of fish, and the occasional insect. There are two different subspecies of this bird, the Anhinga Anhinga Anhinga, and the Anhinga Anhinga leucogaster. The Anhinga is an aquatic bird that commonly lives in coastal waterways. It swims slowly underwater, stalking fish around submerged vegetation. So the anhinga must take action to remove the fish and retrieve and eat it. When the anhinga spears fish with its pointed bill, it sometimes spears them so hard that it is necessary for it to swim to shore to remove the fish from its bill before eating it. Food Habits of Anhinga. There are no estimates of population numbers for anhingas, but is has an extremely large range. They are graceful fliers and can fly long distances without needing to flap their wings, similar to the flight of a turkey vulture. After every dip, it strikes a regal pose on the edges of shallow lakes and ponds, with its silvery wings outstretched and head held high to dry its waterlogged feathers. They primarily eat fish, but will also eat aquatic insects, crayfish, leeches, shrimp, tadpoles, frog eggs, and even young alligators and water snakes. In addition to fish, they also prey on insects, insect larvae, shrimp, crabs, and more. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Animals.NET aim to promote interest in nature and animals among children, as well as raise their awareness in conservation and environmental protection.