AVITOPIA - Darters (Anhingas)

The family of Darters occurs in the tropics and subtropics of all continents. The northern populations are migratory birds. The body size is 90 cm. The birds have long wings, a long trunk and tail. The legs are short, the large feet are webbed. The head is small and the neck and pointed beak are long and slender. They use their pointed beak to spear fish when hunting underwater. They cannot grease their feathers, so they soak up water and have to be dried with outstretched wings. Darters nest in colonies often in the company of other water birds. The male chooses the nesting site and carries branches that the female uses to build the nest.