Anhinga look-alikes
Anhinga anhinga
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Open the appSeveral birds can be mistaken for the Anhinga. Compare the key differences below to confirm your sighting.
Birds to compare
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
Key differences
Cormorants have a hooked bill, while Anhingas have a straight, pointed bill. Cormorants swim with more of their body visible above water and often have a more upright posture. In flight, cormorants have a shorter tail and a more hunched appearance. Anhingas have a much longer, more slender neck and tail, and the silvery wing patches are distinctive on adult males.
Neotropic Cormorant
Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Key differences
Similar to Double-crested Cormorant but smaller. Still distinguishable by the hooked bill, shorter tail, and more robust body compared to the Anhinga's slender, snake-like neck and dagger bill.
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