Water Turkeys

There are two bird species commonly known as “Water Turkeys”: anhingas and cormorants. Anhingas and cormorants are often confused for one another, as they share some similar traits as well as the nickname: both dive underwater for fish, have fans of turkey-like tail feathers, and are somewhat unique among water-dwelling birds in that their feathers lack waterproofing oils. This last characteristic improves diving ability but reduces buoyancy, and these birds can be spotted perched for long periods with their wings spread to dry. The range of both the American Anhinga and the Double Crested Cormorant includes Georgia, where both species can be found nesting and fishing along lakes, rivers, streams, swamps and in coastal areas. While the anhingas and cormorants in our region resemble each other in size and shape, they are distinguishable if you know what to look for: * Cormorants have curved bills, while Anhingas have pointed beaks * Cormorants have yellow coloring near their bills * Anhingas have white spots on their wings * Anhingas (which are also known as “snakebirds”) swim with the body totally submerged and only the neck and head above water, like a snake.