African Darter

Common resident. Long, thin neck with a characteristic kink, straight (not hooked) bill, rufous coloration and slender appearance. Male has grey bill; blacker than female, with silvery-beige plumes on mantle when breeding. Female browner; bill creamy-white. Immaturesimilar to female, with indistinct head and neck markings. Swims with only head and neck above water; perches with outstretched wings after swimming. May call a guttural ‘ger-ge-ger-ger-gerkgerr-ger’ for long periods while perched. Occurs singly or in small groups on large inland waters.