African Darter vs Reed Cormorant

The African Darter and Reed Cormorant can be distinguished by their neck and bill structure: the African Darter has a longer, more slender neck and a straight, pointed bill, while the Reed Cormorant has a shorter neck and a hooked bill. These structural differences are the most reliable field marks when observing these species in the field.

Focus on the neck and bill structure: the African Darter has a long, slender neck and straight bill, while the Reed Cormorant has a shorter neck and hooked bill. Observe their swimming posture for additional clues.

The African Darter is generally larger with a longer neck compared to the smaller Reed Cormorant.

The African Darter often swims with its body submerged and only the neck visible, resembling a snake, while the Reed Cormorant typically swims with more of its body above water.