A male Anhinga, and not being shy. This is a pretty good image to really see this bird. Long neck and sharp bill are clear, full wing span is open, and best of all… look at those feet.
In the air they are swift, and graceful. Under water the feet work with the wings to make swimming almost like flight.
The word Anhinga comes from the old Brazilian Tupi language which means ‘snake bird’. I knew they were called that but didn’t know it came from an extinct language.
Wonderful photos. It is an amazing looking bird.
I thought it was a good shot to actually see what this bird looks like up close. In trying to research how fast they swim I discovered the origin of the name too. Things came together. Thanks.