snakebird

snakebird
/snayk"berrd'/, n.
anhinga.
[1785-95, Amer.; SNAKE + BIRD]

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bird
also called  Darter, or Anhinga,  
 any bird of the family Anhingidae (order Pelecaniformes), sometimes regarded as a single species, Anhinga anhinga, with geographical variants. A large (about 90 cm [35 inches] long), slender, long-necked water bird, it is mostly black, with silvery wing markings. Males, glossed with green, develop pale head plumes and a dark “mane” in breeding season; females are plainer, with brownish foreparts year-round. The snakebird is found in tropical to warm temperate regions except in Europe and lives in small colonies along lakes and rivers. It swims nearly submerged, with its head and neck showing above water and darting snakelike from side to side. The bird spears fish, which it carries ashore in its serrated bill.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Snakebird — Snake bird , n. [So named from its snakelike neck.] (Zo[ o]l.) 1. Any one of four species of aquatic birds of the genus {Anhinga} or {Plotus}. They are allied to the gannets and cormorants, but have very long, slender, flexible necks, and sharp… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • snakebird — ☆ snakebird [snāk′bʉrd΄ ] n. ANHINGA …   English World dictionary

  • snakebird — Wryneck Wry neck, n. (Med.) [1913 Webster] 1. A twisted or distorted neck; a deformity in which the neck is drawn to one side by a rigid contraction of one of the muscles of the neck; torticollis. [1913 Webster] 2. a person suffering from… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Snakebird — The term Snakebird can refer to:* The Anhinga * The African Darter * The Oriental Darter * Or the family to which these birds belong, Darters …   Wikipedia

  • snakebird — noun Date: 1791 anhinga …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • snakebird — noun another term for darter (in sense 1) …   English new terms dictionary

  • snakebird — snake•bird [[t]ˈsneɪkˌbɜrd[/t]] n. orn anhinga • Etymology: 1785–95, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • snakebird — /ˈsneɪkbɜd / (say snaykberd) noun → darter (def. 2) …  

  • snakebird — noun fish eating bird of warm inland waters having a long flexible neck and slender sharp pointed bill • Syn: ↑anhinga, ↑darter • Hypernyms: ↑pelecaniform seabird • Hyponyms: ↑water turkey, ↑Anhinga anhinga …   Useful english dictionary

  • Anhinga anhinga — Snakebird Snake bird , n. [So named from its snakelike neck.] (Zo[ o]l.) 1. Any one of four species of aquatic birds of the genus {Anhinga} or {Plotus}. They are allied to the gannets and cormorants, but have very long, slender, flexible necks,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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