How to Identify Anhingas

Anhingas are water birds that have often been called "Snake Birds" and "Water Turkeys." These very interesting looking birds are easy to identify if you know what you're looking for. Here's how to identify an Anhinga.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Understand the habitat of Anhingas. Find these birds along the Gulf Coast of the United States, as well as in Florida, and on the southeastern Atlantic Coast from North Carolina southward. They're often seen in swamps and other freshwater and coastal areas near large trees and lots of vegetation.

2. Observe the appearance of Anhingas. They have black upper body parts that have a greenish glossy sheen. They also have silver-white spots on their broad wings and backs. The tails are also broad and fan-shaped. They have very long, thin necks with sharp, pointed bills. Female Anhingas have a buff colored breast and neck. The juvenile Anhingas look similar to females, but are browner in overall coloring.

3. Take note of the large size of Anhingas birds. They are between 75 and 95 cm in size. They weigh between 1325 and 1350 g, and have a wingspan between 114 and 122 cm.

4. Listen to the sounds of the Anhinga; although they don't make calls often, when they do, it's typically low pitched grunting noise. This sounds like a "guk-guk-guk". They also make raspy and croaking sounds.

5. Watch the Anhingas fly for long distances without showing any wing beats. During flight you might see very slow and regular movements, but they sometimes look as if they're soaring in the sky.

Tips & Warnings

• Anhingas swim with just their necks above water.
• Don't confuse Anhingas with another group of water birds, the Cormorants. Cormorants don't have the extremely long necks, have shorter bills and tails without the silvery-white spots on their wings.