Introduction: The African finfoot (Podica senegalensis) can be found along quiet, wooded streams and rivers that flow along side vegetation and overhanging trees. Dam verges with the same features plus reed cover are also favoured. Finfoot are a shy species, difficult to observe on open water.
Distribution: Eastern Caprivi.
Diet: Forages close to the water's edge and river banks for mostly insects including dragonflies, grasshoppers, spiders, shrimps, fish, beetles, millipedes, crabs and snails. Occasions have been recorded where they have caught snakes and taken them into water, before eventually killing and eating them on land.
Description: Podica is Latin for 'pertaining to feet, or junction of toes' which refers to their rather unusual lobed toes.
Breeding: Between 1 and 3 eggs are laid between August and April in a grass, reed and rush leaf bowl, strengthened with thin twigs. Chicks often drop into the water from the nest when disturbed.
Size: 65cm.
Weight: 650g. Males are larger than females.
Birds of Namibia Wildlife of Namibia
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