Australian Darter, Profile, Victoria Australia

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The Australasian darter or Australian darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) is a species of bird in the darter family, Anhingidae. It is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. It weighs around 2.6 kg and spans 86–94 cm (34–37 in) in length. Except for the white stripe under its eye and a few other details, it looks very much like the anhingas (Anhinga anhinga) seen in the warmer parts of North America.

The feathers of these darters are not waterproofed by oils like those of ducks. Because of this they become waterlogged, causing the bird to become barely buoyant. This allows them to dive easily and search for fish under the water, where they can stay for significant periods. Between hunting expeditions these birds will move to a safe location to dry their wings in the sun. They have great difficulty flying when their feathers are wet, though they commonly do so.