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WetlandPlatform nestLarge · 1.5 kg
ID tip
The African darter is 80 cm (31 in) long. Like other anhingas, it has a very long neck. The male is mainly glossy black with white streaking; females and immature birds are browner. The African darter differs in appearance from the American darter most recognisably by its thin white lateral neck stripe against a rufous background colour. The pointed bill prevents confusion with cormorants.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the African Darter
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the African Darter
The map shades 38 countries with regular records, and 3 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Mexico, Burkina Faso, Sudan.
About the African Darter
The African darter (Anhinga rufa), sometimes called the snakebird, is a water bird of Sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Oriental DarterAnhinga melanogasterThe Oriental darter is like all other anhingas, a cormorant-like species that has a very long neck.
Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiaeThe Australasian darter is a slim bird measuring 86–94 cm (34–37 in) long with a snakelike slender neck.
AnhingaAnhinga anhingaThe anhinga is a large bird, measuring approximately 89 cm (35 in) in length (with a range of 75–95 cm (30–37 in)), with a 1.14 m (3.7 ft) wingspan.
Side by side: African Darter vs Anhinga · African Darter vs Australasian Darter · African Darter vs Oriental Darter
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