Anhinga

Overview

The anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) is a large, prehistoric-looking waterbird that hunts by swimming underwater and spearing fish with its dagger bill. Unlike cormorants and most other diving birds, it lacks waterproof feathers — a trade-off that reduces buoyancy for diving efficiency but means the bird must dry out after every swim. The posture is iconic: anhinga perched on a snag with wings spread wide, motionless in the sun. The name comes from the Tupi word for “devil bird” or “snake bird,” a reference to the long, sinuous neck visible when the bird swims at the surface.

Males are glossy black-green with white spots and streaks on the wings. Females and immatures have a pale buffy-tan head and neck with chestnut wash on the breast. Both sexes carry a long, fan-shaped tail tipped white, spread in display and used as a rudder underwater.

Why Tortuguero

The anhinga is one of the most reliably visible birds in the park — which, for a wildlife destination built around the promise of rare species, is worth noting. On any canal tour, the bird turns up on exposed branches above the waterline, wings spread, unbothered by boat traffic at a respectful distance. It is also one of the better photographic subjects: stationary, large, and beautifully lit in morning sun.

The subspecies in Tortuguero is A. a. leucogaster, ranging from the southeastern US through Central America. It prefers slow, clear, shallow water — a precise description of the Tortuguero canal system.

How to see them (honestly)

• Scan exposed branches and snags above the canal waterline — the drying posture with spread wings is the giveaway.
• Anhingas swim low in the water with only the long neck above the surface; the “snake neck” sticking out of calm canal water is a reliable ID.
• Watch a perching bird for 10–15 minutes: it will eventually dive, and if the canal is clear you may see it track and spear fish from the surface.
• Most visible in morning when early sun hits the perches on the east bank.

Status note

Least Concern globally, with a large range (estimated 15,000,000 km²) and no documented population decline. Protected in the US under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Local pressures in Tortuguero are minimal; the species is sensitive to water clarity (murky or silted water limits fish-hunting effectiveness) and to disturbance at nesting colonies, which are sometimes shared with herons and cormorants.