Anhinga anhinga leucogaster

(Vieillot, 1816)

Vernacular names
English : Anhinga
French : Anhinga d’Amérique

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Pelecaniformes
Family : Anhingidae
Notes : 1 other subspecies known.

Identification
Body length reaching 91 cm for a weight of 1.35 kg and a wingspan of 1.20 m. Males are entirely black with silvery plumes on wings. Females have brown neck and breast. Both sexes have long yellow bill and blue skin around eyes.

Range and habitat
The species occurs from coastal areas of south-east USA to most coastal zones of Central America, then in South America, south to North Argentina. Subspecies found from south USA to Panama and Cuba. Lives in lakes, slow-moving rivers, swamps with scattered emergent trees.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species remains locally common, even near human settlements as long as suitable trees remain for breeding. Little known in the wild.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Rogers Wildlife (USA)

 

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