AUSTRALIAN DARTER

The Australian darter, also known as the Australian snakebird, is a waterbird species native to Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands in the southwestern Pacific region. It is the only member of the darter family (Anhingidae) found in Australia and is closely related to the American darter (Anhinga anhinga) and the African darter (Anhinga rufa).

The Australian darter is a medium-sized waterbird with a long, slender neck and a distinctive, long, pointed bill. Its plumage is predominantly black with silvery-white streaks on its wings and back. During breeding season, adults develop white plumes on their neck and upper back.

Darters are often mistaken for cormorants, but they can be distinguished by their long necks and bills, as well as their habit of swimming with most of their bodies submerged, leaving only their long necks exposed.

Darter vocalizations include a clicking or rattling when flying or perching. In the nesting colonies, adults communicate with croaks, grunts or rattles.

Australian darters are primarily found in freshwater habitats such as lakes, rivers, swamps, and wetlands. They are native to Australia and are widespread throughout the continent, except for some arid and desert regions.

Australian darters are skilled divers and feed primarily on fish. They hunt by swimming underwater and using their sharp bills to spear fish. After catching a fish, they return to the surface to swallow it whole. This behavior is why they are sometimes called “snakebirds.”

Breeding typically occurs during the austral spring and summer months. During this time, adults develop distinctive white plumes on their necks and backs. They build nests in trees, often in colonies with other waterbirds. The nests are constructed using sticks, reeds, and other available vegetation. Females lay a clutch of eggs, which both the male and female take turns incubating.

Once the eggs hatch, the parents feed the young by regurgitating partially digested fish into their mouths.

Like many waterbirds, they face habitat loss and degradation due to human activities, such as wetland drainage and urban development.

Australian darters are fascinating birds with their unique hunting behavior and distinctive appearance. They play an important role in the ecosystems they inhabit by helping to control fish populations and contributing to the biodiversity of wetland areas.