Trivia question for Aug-06-2011

Carter likes the cool alternative name for these guys so he decided to feature them for the trivia.  These are elegant waterbirds with a S-shaped neck.  They often swim with only its head and neck above the water surface.

Unlike ducks, these birds not able to waterproof its feathers using oil produced by the uropygial gland. Consequently, feathers can become waterlogged, making the bird barely buoyant. However, this allows it to dive easily and search for underwater prey, such as fish and amphibians. It can stay down for significant periods.  The hatchling starts out bald but gains tan down within a few days of hatching. Within two weeks the tan down has been replaced by white down. Three weeks after hatching, the first juvenile feathers appear. Juveniles are mostly brown until first breeding after the second or third winter.

So here are Carter’s questions:  Tell us the name of this long necked bird and what their alternative name is?  Also, tell us what these guys do when they feel threatened, either while flying or perched in a tree?

Good Luck 😉

Answer:

Congratulations goes out to Ty for getting all the answers to our trivia.  The bird we featured is the Anhinga.  The Anhinga sometimes called Snakebird, Darter, American Darter, or Water Turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. The word “anhinga” comes from the Brazilian Tupi language and means devil bird or snake bird.

If they feel threatened, either while flying, swimming or even while perched in a tree, they immediately head for water and dive below the surface where they can stay for a considerable amount of time.  Here is more on these birds: Anhinga

Thanks for playing along 😉