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Darter

(Anhinga melanogaster)
Alternative names: "Snake-necked Darter", "Diver", "Snake-bird", "Shag"
Aboriginal names: "koorowera", "marbangye"
Size: 85-90 cm; wing span 1.2 m

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Darters inhabit basically the coastal fringe around Australia, including the east coast of Tasmania, and the northern tropics, plus roughly the eastern half of the continent. They are only rarely found in the southern half of the NT and not at all in the arid interior of WA and western SA. There are no Darters along the coastline of the Great Bight either.

Darters are found mostly in fresh water aquatic habitats, such as rivers, lakes and swamps. They can also be sighted in estuarine habitats, but hardly ever in pure (marine) salt water.

Sightings

In the region of Narrabri, NSW, we spotted a Darter near our former neighbour's billabong in 2005, 20 km south of town. The next sighting was of a female in November 2006, near Boggabri, NSW. Darters were seen in the 2007 breeding season in various locations in and around Narrabri. Spotted again in Narrabri in the subsequent years. A number of Darters are permanent residents at Narrabri Lake.

In addition, we have seen Darters in various places around Australia. Once on the Yellow River, Northern Territory, and later also on the west coast, on the Greenough river near Geraldton.

Also seen by us in many different locations of central QLD, especially in coastal areas, in July 2009.

Photos

Frontal view of a male Darter

Frontal view of a "decorated" male Darter that has just emerged from a pond

Lateral view of a male Darter checking out the surroundings

Dorsal view of a male Darter

Here a bird spreading its wings...

... for drying

Here seen at Narrabri Lake

This bird looks like a young male

Female Darter in Narrabri Creek

Female Darter drying its plumage

Lateral profile of a "rocket" - male Darter in flight

Male Darter in flight, seen from underneath

Female Darter in flight, seen from underneath

Immature Darter in flight; note the all cream-coloured neck distinguishing it from a female bird

Immature Darter getting ready for touchdown

Behaviour

Darters spike their prey, rather than grabbing it like herons or egrets. They then thrust the prey upward and maneuvre it into the slender bill by turning it.

Female Darter with its prey

Additional information

On a separate page we have lined up a series of shots of a Darter turning around and swallowing a fish spiked on its bill.

Food

Darters feed exclusively on fish.