To the sea you go to see the cormorant, perhaps the odd estuary you will find them mingling with the African darter, clean water estuaries is where the darter bird is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
South Africa has six cormorant mostly found in the Cape waters, some teetering on endangered listing. Bank Cormorant, Cape Cormorant, Cormorant, Crowned Cormorant, Reed Cormorant and White breasted Cormorant belonging to the Phalacrocoracidae family, learning something new every day even during lockdown not being able to get to the shoreline or rivers.
When 
African Darter is family Anhingidae now these guys I always thought were one and the same, apparently not at all! Birds are often found on any large body of water sub-Saharan Africa and the species remains widespread and common.
Different to other waterbirds the African Darter and Cormorant don't have oil to waterproof their wings, relying on diving techniques using web feet to obtain amazing speed to spear fish in the water.
Not having natural oil they need to dry out on the banks, cliffs or trees, often standing side by side, this ritual is more warming up more than drying out together along our rivers. So the birds look similar in some of their habits, but most definitely are not of the same not in family linage.
If I fully understand correctly the easiest way to differentiate between the two is the African darter has an exceptionally pointed bill for spearing fish, with long snake like neck giving it the nickname of snakebird.
Comorant has a slight curve at the end of its beak, more black colouration obtaining the nickname of sea crows, exceptionally large feet making them excellent swimmers.
The African darter differs in appearance from the American darter most recognizable by its thin white lateral neck stripe against a rufous background colour. The pointed bill should prevent confusion with cormorants. It is an 80 cm long cormorant-like fish-eating species with a very long neck, like other anhingas. [Wikiwand Source}(https://www.wikiwand.com/en/African_darter)
As you most probably guessed these two birds definitely confuse me, not always confidently able to tell one from the other, so rest assured you are looking at one or the other.
Thanks for joining me looking at a bird who has international relatives much like us!
All photography is my own, any queries or requests please drop a comment below, have a wonderful day!
!pinmapple -30.0836005 lat 30.8678566 long Sapphire Coast South Africa D3SCR
Thought for Today: "Only birds with long beaks can drink from deep pots." - African Proverb
