Anhinga, snakebird, darter, American darter, or water turkey are the variety of names given to the diving Anhinga anhinga. With features that resemble cormorants and European shags, the Anhinga is a piscivore. Lacking nostrils, this species gulps air and dives when pursuing its aquatic prey. The individual pictured was photographed from a birding platform in a mangrove swamp near Hacienda Baru Costa Rica. The second image (below) was processed using a "painterly" effect in the TopazLabs B&W effects v2 software plugin.
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