Oriental Darter

The Oriental darter, Anhinga melanogaster, is a water bird of tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is characterized by its long and slender neck, which is reminiscent of a snake, hence its colloquial name "snakebird." The bird's plumage is predominantly black with silvery streaks on the wing coverts and tertials. The underparts are blackish brown, and a pale line over the eye and throat, along with a line running along the sides of the neck, gives it a striped appearance.

Identification Tips

Adult Oriental darters can be identified by their white iris with a yellow ring, a dark tip on the upper mandible, and yellowish lower mandible. The legs and webbing on the foot are yellow in immatures and non-breeding birds, while breeding birds have darker grey tarsi and toes with yellow webbing. In flight, the bird's long and slender neck, wide wings, and wedge-shaped tail make it distinctive.

Habitat

The Oriental darter is typically found in freshwater lakes and streams, where it can be seen foraging alone with its body submerged and neck moving jerkily above the water.

Distribution

This species is native to tropical regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Behaviour

The Oriental darter hunts by submerging its body in water and darting its neck forward with rapid force to stab fish underwater. It then brings the fish to the surface, tossing it before swallowing head first. The bird is often seen perched on a rock or branch with wings held open to dry, as its feathers are wettable like those of cormorants. It may soar on thermals or alternate flapping and gliding in flight.

Song & Calls

The Oriental darter is generally silent except at the nest, where it produces grunts and croaks, and a disyllabic "chigi-chigi-chigi." Chicks are noisy when begging for food.

Breeding

Breeding occurs in mixed species heronries, where the Oriental darter builds a stick platform on a tree surrounded by water. The breeding season varies by region, with clutches typically consisting of three to six bluish-green eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs, leading to asynchronous hatching.

Similar Species

The Oriental darter can be distinguished from American darters by its white lateral neck stripe and other morphological features.

Diet and Feeding

The Oriental darter's diet consists primarily of fish, which it spears underwater before swallowing.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the Oriental darter as Near Threatened, indicating that it faces threats that could lead to its vulnerability in the near future.