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« Latin Cicada (Cicada Love) | Main | Mystery Birds: Plumed Whistling Ducks, Dendrocygna eytoni »
Topic Categories: Birding • Education • Mystery Birds • Photography • Teaching • Travel
Posted on: November 20, 2009 9:59 AM, by "GrrlScientist"
tags: Australian Darter, Anhinga novaehollandiae, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Australian Darter, Anhinga novaehollandiae, photographed at Mareeba Wetlands, Australia. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Steve Duncan, 26 August 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200 w/ Nikkor 300mm f/4 & TC17E.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Life Science
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Comments
As it's Australia, Australian Darter ( Anhinga) with a white "moustache" which rules out the other Darters in the region (I think).
Posted by: Adrian | November 20, 2009 10:31 AM
Adrian, there are four living species in the family Anhingidae: the Anhinga or American Darter, Anhinga anhinga; the Oriental or Indian Darter, Anhinga melanogaster; the African Darter, Anhinga rufa ; and the Australasian or Australian Darter, Anhinga novaehollandiae ... the latter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) is the only darter found in Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
Originally the Old World darters were all considered subspecies of A. melanogaster but are now classified as distinct species.
All have black and dark brown plumage, a short crest on the nape and a sharply pointed bill but with no external nostrils, completely webbed feet, and their legs set far back on the body. Because the plumage on our photo is relatively dark and females and immatures are grey-brown above, pale grey to white below, this is a male.
male Australasian Darter, Australia
male American Darter, Florida
male African Darter, Gambia
male Oriental Darter, India
Posted by: David | November 20, 2009 5:15 PM
very weird/annoying- I'm sure I posted a comment and a range of photos to you Adrian a couple of days ago...
there is only one species of Anhinga in Australia, the Australasian Darter or Australian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) found in Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea..
another give-away from the photo above: all of the Anhingidae lack external nostrils
Posted by: David | November 22, 2009 10:04 AM
Hello David, Yes I tried to update my comment here as well but it did not appear. Oriental Darter doesn't get to the Australasian region so this is the only one here.
Posted by: Adrian | November 22, 2009 1:28 PM