The Sunbittern is a beautiful example of unique wing patterns in a crane-like bird. This is another of those birds that deserves its own family - the Eurypygidae.
I had the pleasure of seeing one of these birds in 1976 is a small river near Hwy. 195 between Teapa and Ixtacomitan in the state of Chiapas. It was displaying from time to time by stretching its wings.
Sunbitterns hunt much like herons for fish and other small water animals.
Classification:
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Eurypygidae (sometimes Eurypigidae)
Genus: Eurypyga
Species: E. helias
Photos:
Sun Bittern
Sun Bittern
Sunbittern in Amazonia
"This sunbittern is perched and ready to pick off a few fish. He/she did pick off a few. This sunbittern is in Amazonia at the National Zoo."
Rio Platanillo
"near where we saw the sunbittern"
sunbittern
"we took a hike along the Platanillo River, looking for the sunbittern, and found this one fanning its wings"
Video:
Commentary:
Brazil Day 8, a Change in Atmosphere
A Sun Bittern flew up under some heavy branches. Unfortunately I got a very poor look at it. Brad said we should be able to find another on the river during our stay. The trip up river took abo… Read more…
Today we have spotted yet another novelty for our birdlist, the Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias, Pavãozinho-do-Pará). It’s a very unique bird, belonging to a monotypic family and occurs norma… Read more…
the sunbittern, eurypyga helias is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the americas, and the… Read more…
David Attenborough’s The Life of Birds
The birds themselves are spectacular: the lyrebird that can mimic a camera shutter sound complete with motordrive, the cock-of-the-rock and its spectacular plumage, sunbitterns and their crazy … Read more…
Birding Arenal Observatory Lodge
Although the restaurant offerings need serious help, the trails are also good birding as is the entrance road (check the rivers for Sunbittern and Fasciated Tiger Heron); birding both areas sho… Read more…
Another mega-rarity in the USA!!
Sunbitterns yes, Sungrebe NO! Here is what Texbirds has to say: and here, and here, and finally here. Crazy! If this bird is accepted, it would be the 3rd ABA 1st area record just this year! Ma… Read more…
August 24th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
A sunbittern displays the colourful false eyes on its fully spread wings in an attempt to pertect its nesting site. This stunning display is also used in courtship.