This bird is well-adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle and is commonly found across Sub-Saharan Africa, inhabiting a variety of freshwater environments, including lakes, swamps, and rivers. The bird has a very slim and long neck, which has earned it the nickname “snakebird,” as only the neck appears above water when it swims, resembling a snake ready to strike.
The African darter’s primary diet consists of fish, which it hunts with remarkable skill. Its body is specially adapted for an aquatic hunting lifestyle; it has webbed feet for propulsion and a long, sharp bill for spearing fish underwater. When hunting, the darter submerges itself and can swim long distances underwater to approach its prey stealthily. Once it spots a target, it uses its powerful neck and bill to spear the fish with precision.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the African darter is its feather structure. Unlike many other waterfowl, the darter’s feathers do not have waterproof oils, which allows it to decrease buoyancy and dive deeper and with more agility. However, this adaptation comes with the downside of the feathers becoming waterlogged. Consequently, the African darter is often seen perched with its wings spread out to dry in the sun after a hunting session. This behavior is critical for maintaining the bird’s body temperature and flight capabilities.
The drying of feathers is a critical behavior and is often a communal activity, with large groups of darters seen basking together along the banks of rivers or lakes. This behavior facilitates drying and serves as a social interaction among the birds.
The African darter is also known for its elaborate courtship displays, which involve an intricate series of gestures, including bill-clattering, neck-stretching, and feather fluffing. Breeding usually occurs in large colonies, where nests are constructed in trees or reeds overhanging water.
Distribution
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
Comoros
Congo-Brazzaville
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Official estimate
Jordan
Official estimate
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Official estimate
Tanzania
Turkey
Official estimate
Uganda
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
