Anhinga, #23/50

Here we have the Anhinga, the only bird listed in the  Category, "Anhingidae - Anhingas & Darters". The top image is a male, and the female has the brown neck, or "is wearing a brown turtle neck sweater" as I like to say. The second image shows breeding colors. The Anhinga is almost always around, whether I am visiting Green Cay, Wakodohatchee, Wellington, National Everglades, this species can be found. The breeding colors are especially beautiful~

Interesting Facts:

Like cormorants, to which it is closely related, it must dry its wings intermittently in the sun after fishing forays. It often swims below the surface with only the neck and head exposed, hence another of its names, "snake-bird".

Wood Stork, # 22/50

I am almost half way into my project, to identify 50 birds in 60 days. The majority of the images were all taken in the past twelve months, this is an effort on my part to identify them, and my blog keeps me focused on the project.  I have also started a flickr group, Wings Over Florida, which is growing and will be a resource guide of amazing images of Florida Birds, for those that need help with identification and those that just would like to enjoy viewing.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1946322@N22/

The top image was taken @ the Wild Bird Center in the Florida Keys, the middle image was taken @ Wakodohatchee Wetlands, and the bottom, at my favorite pull off on Alligator Alley.

Interesting Facts:

The large size, naked all-dark head, long, slightly decurved bill and white plumage, make this species easily identifiable.

Tricolored Heron #5/50

These images of a Tricolored heron were taken at Green Cay Wetlands, Delray Beach.  In the 2nd small image we can see his breeding colors in the bill (blue). In the bottom image, he had just shook off his wet feathers and was in the process of putting himself back together when I caught this (when a little bird jumped in my frame). The top small image is a "teenager" tricolored heron, image taken at Alligator Farm, St. Augustine FL.

Interesting facts:
During breeding season the Tri-color gets even more colorful. The base of its bill turns bright blue, and it develops a white pony tail plume on the back of its head. Soft tan plumes grow from its back. Its legs turn bright red.