ORIENTAL DARTER (Anhinga melanogaster)
Oriental Darter also known as the Snake Bird has a long and slender neck with a straight beak. It hunts for fish while its body is submerged in water. It spears a fish underwater, bringing it above the surface, tossing and juggling it before swallowing the fish head first. Only their neck is visible while the body is submerged underwater and the head looks like a snake that is the reason for the name 'Snake Bird'
Their Long Flexible snake like neck is very useful to move around and scratch or clean itself easily.
But i have observed one thing about these birds, even when they are perched they are super sensitive of any movement on or under water body. When i was clicking this Darter it was cleaning itself and suddenly it turned to checked the water for any fishes. Later it went back to its business of cleaning itself :P
Oriental Darter is near Threatened state and can be found near water bodies, either perched with its wings open or in water with its head visible over it.
These images were clicked at Baratpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India.
Hope you enjoyed this post.
Copyright of all 4 images are with Ashir Kumar
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