Photo: Kaippally / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Oriental Darter
Anhinga melanogaster
Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) is a member of the Anhingidae family found in Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 1.5 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 melanogaster
Where it lives
Indus Valley (central Pakistan) south to Sri Lanka and east to Vietnam, south to Greater Sundas, Sulawesi and Philippines (now only Mindanao and Jolo, Sulu Arch., southern Philippines)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 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 Oriental Darter hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Oriental Darter is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) is a species of bird in the Anhingidae family, part of the order Suliformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, AU Indus Valley (c Pakistan) s to Sri Lanka and e to Vietnam, s to Greater Sundas, Sulawesi and Philippines (now only Mindanao and Jolo, Sulu Arch., s Philippines).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 34.2 cm and a tail of around 23.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Oriental Darter?
The Oriental Darter is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Oriental Darter live?
The Oriental Darter is found across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, AU Indus Valley (c Pakistan) s to Sri Lanka and e to Vietnam, s to Greater Sundas, Sulawesi and Philippines (now only Mindanao and Jolo, Sulu Arch., s Philippines), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Oriental Darter belong to?
The Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) belongs to the Anhingidae family, in the order Suliformes.
What does the Oriental Darter eat?
The Oriental Darter hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Oriental Darter migrate?
The Oriental Darter is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Oriental Darter 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 Oriental Darter make?
1 real field recording of the Oriental Darter — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Oriental Darter's range?
The Oriental Darter has a mapped global range of about 6.9 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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