Anhinga

For some reason, Anhingas (Anhinga anhinga) are one of my favorite Florida birds. While they don't have the colorful feathers of the Roseate Spoonbill or the elegance of a Snowy Egret, their strangeness appeals to me. Anhingas are fish-eating birds and excellent swimmers. Their long snake-like neck lets them snap up their prey. Apparently they are graceful fliers, but I typically see them at water's edge with wings spread to dry their waterlogged feathers. I've only seen them underwater a couple of times but their quickness in the water impressed me.


This post is part of a series on Florida's Gulf Coast