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The word anhinga comes from a'ñinga in the Brazilian Tupi language and means "devil bird" or "snake bird". [3] The origin of the name is apparent when swimming: only the neck appears above water, so the bird looks like a snake ready to strike. They do not have external nares (nostrils) and breathe solely through their epiglottis.
Grebes (/ ˈ ɡ r iː b z /) are aquatic diving birds in the order Podicipediformes (/ ˌ p ɒ d ɪ s ɪ ˈ p ɛ d ɪ f ɔːr m iː z /). [1] Grebes are widely distributed freshwater birds, with some species also found in marine habitats during migration and winter. Most grebes fly, although some flightless species exist, most notably in stable ...
The high haemoglobin concentration in their blood gives them a capacity to store oxygen greater than that of other birds, allowing them to remain underwater for 30 seconds or more, [9] whilst their basal metabolic rate is approximately one-third slower than typical terrestrial passerines of similar mass. [14]
The European Anglophone name "diver" comes from the bird's habit of catching fish by swimming calmly along the surface and then abruptly plunging into the water. The North American name "loon" likely comes from either the Old English word lumme , meaning lummox or awkward person, or the Scandinavian word lum meaning lame or clumsy.
The blue-footed booby hunts by diving into the ocean after prey, sometimes from a great height, and can also swim underwater in pursuit of its prey. It can hunt singly, in pairs, or in larger flocks. Boobies travel in parties of about 12 to areas of water with large schools of small fish.
The Ocean Photographer of the Year awards announced the winners of its 2024 contest featuring stunning images of underwater wildlife. 12 award-winning underwater photos give rare glimpses beneath ...
A water bird, alternatively waterbird or aquatic bird, is a bird that lives on or around water. In some definitions, the term water bird is especially applied to birds in freshwater ecosystems , although others make no distinction from seabirds that inhabit marine environments .
They shed the colorful outer parts of their bills after the breeding season, leaving a smaller and duller beak. Their short wings are adapted for swimming with a flying technique underwater. In the air, they beat their wings rapidly (up to 400 times per minute) [1] in swift flight, often flying low over the ocean's surface.