Anhinga Tossing a Fish Above Dark Rippled Water

A black-feathered anhinga holds a golden-olive fish at the tip of its long, orange-yellow bill, with the bird's beak wide open and the pink inside of its mouth showing. The bird has a vivid red eye ringed in teal, and a few pale, wispy feathers stick out from the back of its head. The fish is caught in mid-air, tilted upward, with its fins spread and a rust-red tail and dorsal fin catching the light. Behind them, the water is dark navy and charcoal with soft ripples and small bright flecks. The warm tones of the fish stand out against the cool background, and the moment feels tense and sudden.

Anhingas, also called darters, belong to the same order as cormorants and gannets. They hunt by swimming underwater and spearing fish with a sharp bill, then surface and flip the catch into the air so they can swallow it head first. Their feathers lack the heavy waterproofing of many other waterbirds, so they often perch with wings spread to dry. They live in warm, shallow freshwater habitats across the southeastern United States and beyond, and this one was recorded in Palm Beach County, Florida. The dark, even background and diagonal composition suit widescreen desktop monitors, where the fish and bill have room to stand out.