The African darter, also known as the snakebird or, slanghals in Afrikaans, is a water-bird that is common throughout sub-Saharan African. It has earned the name snakebird for the way that it swims – it keeps its entire body very low in the water, with only the neck and the head sticking out, giving it the appearance of a swimming snake. The male darter’s body is almost completely glossy black with the exception of the white streaking on the face and body, and the colouration of the neck, which has a warm chestnut hue. The female (like the juvenile birds) is browner than the male with less noticeable white streaks. Both of them have gold-coloured eyes with brown bills. The male’s bill is slightly larger than the female’s. This bill is used to impale fish and is, as a result, strong and sharply pointed. As a water-bird, the African darter can be found around fresh and brackish waters that are surrounded by (or close to) fresh vegetation. Shallow lakes and slow-flowing rivers that are flanked by trees, mangroves and reeds are ideal. They will also be found around swamps, lagoons, and reservoirs, but will avoid marine habitats, generally speaking. They need trees or bushes for their roosting.
Info source: https://www.sa-venues.com/wildlife/birds_african_darter.php
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The photo was taken during September 2017 at Lake Panic Bird Hide, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
