Photo: Tim from Ithaca / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Anhinga
Anhinga anhinga
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) is a member of the Anhingidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Suliformes
- Family Anhingidae Anhingas, Darters
- Genus Anhinga
- Species anhinga
Where it lives
South-central, southeastern USA and west-central Mexico to northern Argentina, Cuba and Cayman Is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Anhingidae
- Order
- Suliformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Anhinga hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Anhinga is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) is a species of bird in the Anhingidae family, part of the order Suliformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA sc, se USA and wc Mexico to n Argentina, Cuba and Cayman Is.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 34 cm and a tail of around 26.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 14.9 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Anhinga?
The Anhinga is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the Anhinga live?
The Anhinga is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA sc, se USA and wc Mexico to n Argentina, Cuba and Cayman Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Anhinga belong to?
The Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) belongs to the Anhingidae family, in the order Suliformes.
What does the Anhinga eat?
The Anhinga hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Anhinga migrate?
The Anhinga is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Anhinga endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Anhinga make?
1 real field recording of the Anhinga — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Anhinga's range?
The Anhinga has a mapped global range of about 14.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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