The Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) is a favourite bird of mine. It was also a favourite bird of my mother, Phylis E. MacKay (1920 – 2005) and I have dedicated this approximately life-sized paintings of a pair of Anhingas, to her memory. The name, Anhinga, derives from the aboriginal Tupi language of Brazil and apparently means “snake bird”, also a colloquial English name that references the very snake-like appearance of the head and neck showing above water. Their long tail is thought by some to resemble the tail of a turkey, giving the species another colloquial name, water turkey.  Their plumage, like that of cormorants, is not particularly waterproof and they often swim with their bodies just below the surface, so only the narrow head and long, superficially serpentine neck show above the surface. They also have denser bones than most birds, lack external nostrils and have all four toes joined by webbing.  These features all facilitate underwater swimming. After swimming, they, also like cormorants, will often perch with wings held open, to dry. The Anhinga ranges from the southeastern U.S. south through Mexico and the West Indies and Central America, deep into South America. Birds in the higher latitudes may be migratory. In North America the Anhinga has occurred as far north as Ontario. This oil painting on a birch panel is approximately life-size and shows the female, above, the male below. This is a larger painting than I usually do, and needs lots of room, but would, I think, enhance any décor that is open, airy and involves indoor tropical plants, print patterned furniture, wicker and bamboo, light colours. But I never paint with décor in mind and first and foremost one has to like the painting, the subject, the treatment and be able to afford it, plus cost of shipping, if applicable, and framing (although it is mounted on a wooden frame and could be hung unframed for a minimalist look).