Oriental Darter
Anhinga melanogaster
Also known as: Darter, Indian Darter
About This Species
A large waterbird of freshwater lakes, rivers and wetlands across South and Southeast Asia, often seen perched with its long neck and dagger-like bill held upright, or swimming with only its head and neck above the water. It hunts by stalking fish underwater and spearing them, then typically returns to a perch to dry its outstretched wings in the sun. Wetland margins with fish-rich shallows and nearby perching sites, especially in the cooler, drier months, offer the most reliable views.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Watching from the opposite bank or a hide at a comfortable distance allows this bird to continue fishing and drying its wings undisturbed, whereas close approach by boat or on foot commonly causes it to abandon a perch or feeding spot.
- Protections and enforcement for waterbirds vary considerably among the many countries within its range, so local wetland or protected-area regulations should be checked before visiting a site.
- Approaching nesting colonies, which are often shared with other waterbirds, is best avoided altogether given the risk of mass disturbance to breeding birds.
LCAvesSuliformesAnhingidae
Seasonal Activity
237,594 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Suliformes
- Family
- Anhingidae
Photo
(c) Dr Caesar Sengupta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Dr Caesar Sengupta
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.