Justification This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Family/Sub-family Anhingidae

Species name author (Daudin, 1802)

Taxonomic source(s) Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Taxonomic note Anhinga melanogaster, A. novaehollandiae (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) and A. rufa (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993, Dowsett and Forbes-Watson 1993), species occurring in Asia, Australasia and Africa, are retained as separate species contra Christidis and Boles (1994), Turbott (1990), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Vol. I and AERC TAC (2003), who all include rufa and novaehollandiae as subspecies of A. melanogaster.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

27,000 - 130,000

unset

18,000,000 km²

No

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: Behaviour This species is mainly sedentary^{1, 3} but is subject to little known opportunistic local movements related to drought and wetland conditions^{1, 2, 3}. The timing of breeding is seasonal in some areas, but can be at any time of the year¹. The species usually breeds in mixed-species colonies^{1, 2, 3}, and roosts nightly in groups of 10 to 50³ (sometimes up to 100) in trees, bushes or reedbeds often in mixed-species groups², although it is generally a solitary feeder^{2, 5}. Its moulting habits are little known, but some adults may go through a flightless moult period after breeding³. Habitat The species shows a preference for still, shallow, inland freshwater and alkaline lakes and slow-flowing rivers fringed with reeds and trees^{1, 2, 5}. It may also occur in swamps^{1, 5}, reservoirs^{1, 3, 5}, river oxbows⁵ and forested streams^2, typically avoiding marine habitats³ but occasionally foraging in mangrove swamps¹, estuaries^{1, 2, 3, 5}, shallow tidal inlets^{1, 2} and coastal lagoons^{1, 2, 3}. It generally avoids fast-flowing rivers, areas with dense floating vegetation³, and narrow, steep-banked or seasonally drained habitats⁵, preferring to feed in water 1-3 m deep (up to 6 m)³ with forested margins or scattered emergent trees and islets with dense vegetation¹. The species requires trees, bushes or reedbeds for roosting², and prefers dead trees, rocks or banks to rest on after feeding³. Diet Its diet consists mainly of fish such as Cichlidae and Cyprinidae¹, although it will also take amphibians, water snakes, terrapins, aquatic insects, crustaceans and molluscs¹. Breeding site The species nests in mixed-species colonies^{1, 2}, each pair building a nest platform of sticks and other vegetation¹ in forks of trees or in reedbeds 1-6 m high² (often c.2 m )¹ over water or on islands³.

Threats This species is persecuted in some areas of southern Africa because of its perceived (actually minimal) impact on trout and other recreational fish species³. In Burundi it is threatened by disturbance, exploitation at colonies³, destruction of habitats and environmental pollution⁴.

References 1. del Hoyo et al. (1992). 2. Brown et al. (1982). 3. Hockey et al. (2005). 4. Ntahuga (2000). 5. Johnsgard (1993).

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Anhinga rufa. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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