An adult male Anhinga, credit – Joy Viola, Northeastern University, Bugwood.org / licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License.
Maine’s birdwatching community is buzzing with excitement over the first-ever sighting of an unusual bird, known as the “devil bird” or anhinga, in the state’s history. After hosting a Stellar’s sea eagle in the winter of 2022, it’s now the turn of this fish-eating bird native to South and Central America to make its appearance.

The anhinga was spotted near a pond in Somerville, about 70 miles north of Portland, on July 23. The image was first shared by Tabatha Holt on a local Facebook group. She correctly identified the bird as an anhinga, a species far from its usual habitat ranging from Florida, the Gulf Coast, and up to the Carolinas.

Doug Hitchcox from the Maine Audubon Society was among at least 80 people who got to see this rare visitor. He suggests that climate change could be causing birds like the anhinga to expand their ranges northward. However, he also mentions that many waterbirds experience strange expansions and retractions in their habitats. According to him, this time of year is known as the “rarity season,” when unexpected avian guests can show up anywhere.

The name “anhinga” is derived from the Indigenous Tupi people of Brazil who referred to them as “devil birds” or “evil spirits of the woods.” Their unique appearance has earned them nicknames like “water turkeys” and “snake birds,” due to their long, black necks that slither through water like snakes.

Share this incredible sighting with your friends who love birdwatching…

Source: Good News Network