SunbitternDistribution:

Central & South America

Habitat:Tropical Forest &

Freshwater

Height:46 - 53cm

Weight:171 - 214g

Diet:Carnivorous

Common Name: SunbitternScientific Name: Eurypyga helias

LEAST CONCERN

The Sunbittern has a fairly long, straight bill, a long slenderneck, a long tail and short legs used for stalking its prey. Thebird has a dull colouration, with a striped pattern of black, greyand brown. Its wings have large and wide feathers, which if fullyspread show two enormous bright "eyes" or "sunspots" that areused both in courtship and other displays, or used to startlepotential predators. When threatened they start an elaboratedance, with wings and tail spread out in a defensive posture.

They inhabit the tropical rainforests of Central and SouthAmerica, 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 sharplypointed bills to spear insects, crustaceans, amphibians andsmall fish. Sunbitterns hunt like herons, walking slowly along orstanding motionless on the waters edge.

These birds build a domed nest from mud and grass on theforest floor or in trees. They lay two eggs which are incubatedby both parents. The chicks are left for long periods while theirparents forage for food.