Snapshot

Downtown Miami Avifauna

The right moment, the right place.

An anhinga — a fairly common water bird that feeds on fish and is often seen with open wings drying off on the banks of body of water, Ron Magill, Miami-Dade Zoological Park Goodwill Ambassador/Communications Director, explained to Downtown News. Photo, Aurea Veras.

Anhinga

It is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas, also known as snakebird, American darter, and water turkey. The word anhinga comes from the Brazilian Tupi language meaning “snake bird”. The name is apparent when one sees an anhinga swimming: only the neck appears above water, so the bird looks like a snake ready to strike. The anhinga is part of the darter family Anhingidae.

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