Anhinga

Description:

This is a fairly large bird, which can reach as much as 35 inches in length, and a wingspan of up to 3.5 feet or more. Colors and markings are as seen in the above photos.

Habitat:

This bird was spotted in the Florida Everglades, close to a marsh and adjacent lake.

Notes:

This bird dives for fish and other water prey. It does not have waterproof feathers (unlike ducks), and accordingly has difficulty flying when wet. After diving, it must dry its feathers before flying by spreading its wings as illustrated in the photos above. Per the attached Wikipedia article, the Anhinga can stay under water longer while feeding, as it is less buoyant than ducks, who oil their feathers from the uropygial gland for buoyancy.