Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias)

Posted by Michael (Wuppertal, Germany) on 26 October 2007 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

Taken at the Wuppertal zoo

The Sunbittern, Eurypyga helias is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas, and the sole member of the family Eurypygidae (sometimes spelled Eurypigidae) and genus Eurypyga. The Sunbittern is normally found near wooded streams or creeks at elevations of up to 909 m. It hunts fish and other small vertebrates much in the same way as herons do. The bird has a generally subdued coloration, with fine linear patterns of black, grey and brown. Its remiges however have vividly-colored middle webs, which with wings fully spread show bright eyespots in red, yellow, and black. These are shown to other sunbitterns in courtship and threat displays, or used to startle potential predators. Like some other birds, the Sunbittern has powder down.

Sunbittern. (2007, October 6). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21:38, October 22, 2007, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sunbittern&oldid=162575630

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