Australasian Darter
Anhinga novaehollandiae
Freshwater Lake, Centennial Lakes, Cairns North, FN Qld IMG_9072 20191201 - male drying out. CLICK to zoom.
Notes: Long, snake-like neck & finely
pointed bill; long, rounded tail. Iris yellow.
Male:
largely brown-black, chestnut patch on breast, pale stripe
from gape.
Female: grey-brown above, pale below; white
neck stripe. Juvenile: like female
but indistinct white
neck stripe. In freshwater wetlands; they swim low, dive.
Range from eBird©(last 10 years)
Freshwater Lake, Centennial Lakes, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_8675 20221129 - female
Australind, SW WA IMG_8239 20181020 - female. CLICK for one at Birdsville Caravan Park, FSW Qld 20200915.
Braeside Park, Melbourne, S Vic IMG_9946b 20211205 - male close-up. CLICK for female.
Buffalo Creek, Darwin, N NT IMG_4577 20180731 - female & fish
Byerstown, FN Qld IMG_7358 20180306 - male: chestnut patch on breast.
Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve, N NT IMG_3998 20180729 - male. CLICK for female, Braeside Park, Melbourne 20211205.
Racecourse, Georgetown, FN Qld IMG_3876+3878 20200616 - male. Distinctive flight silhouette: small head,long strongly-kinked neck, long broad tail & wings. CLICK to see female in flight at Braeside Park, Melbourne, S Vic 20211205.
Batemans Bay, SE NSW IMG_7352 20171023 - juvenile: indistinct white neck stripe.
Leichhardt Lagoon, Normanton, FN Qld IMG_6491 20200622 - juvenile: indistinct white neck stripe. CLICK to see downychicks, Braeside Park, Melbourne, S Vic 20211205.
Freshwater Lake, Centennial Gardens, Cairns North, FN Qld MVI_8744 20190407 - male
Australind, SW WA MVI_8198 20181020 - females, males
Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, NE Qld MVI_8566 20190722 - male