Common Name: Sunbittern Scientific Name: Eurypyga helias
LEAST CONCERN Sunbittern Distribution: Central & South America
Habitat: Tropical Forest & Freshwater Height: 46 - 53cm Weight: 171 - 214g Diet: Carnivorous
The Sunbittern has a fairly long, straight bill, a long slender neck, a long tail and short legs used for stalking its prey. The bird has a dull colouration, with a striped pattern of black, grey and brown. Its wings have large and wide feathers, which if fully spread show two enormous bright "eyes" or "sunspots" that are used both in courtship and other displays, or used to startle potential predators. When threatened they start an elaborate dance, with wings and tail spread out in a defensive posture. They inhabit the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, where they live around swamps, streams and lake. Sunbittern are found singularly or in pairs. They are quiet birds and use their long, straight and sharply pointed bills to spear insects, crustaceans, amphibians and small fish. Sunbitterns hunt like herons, walking slowly along or standing motionless on the waters edge. These birds build a domed nest from mud and grass on the forest floor or in trees. They lay two eggs which are incubated by both parents. The chicks are left for long periods while their parents forage for food.