snakebird

Water bird of genus Anhinga, related to the cormorant and pelican, forming the family Anhingidae, order Pelecaniformes. They swim in lakes, rivers, or seas with only the head on the long neck showing above water, moving sinuously, then darting forward to seize a fish, the neck vertebrae being specially adapted for flexibility. The snakebirds are widely distributed throughout Central and South America, South Asia, and Australia, and vary little in colour.

The American snakebird A. anhinga, inhabits tropical regions; its general colour is greenish-black, the tail is tipped with brown, the wings marked with silvery grey, and the feathers are small and soft. It is about 90 cm/35 in high. It nests in a tree, and lays four chalky-white eggs.