Darter portraits

Darters in many ways are like cormorants however unlike cormorants they have a stiletto bill which they can use to spear fish. They are found in most aquatic habitats, both freshwater and saline, but not off shore in seas and oceans.

When in the water hunting they ride low with their body often submerged with only the head and long snake like neck visible. They are often seen perched with wings spread wide as they dry out. The male Darter in the following portraits was drying out with wings outstretched on the Richmond River at Ballina in northern NSW.

Please click on photos to enlarge.

I always find it a special pleasure to come across a Darter. This is partly because they are a little uncommon but I think it is more because they are unusual birds with a striking presence.

You can see some photos of a female Darter in this earlier post: http://avithera.blogspot.com/2017/07/darter-at-snowy-river-estuary.html