Sunbittern

The sunbittern is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas, and the sole member of the family Eurypygidae and genus Eurypyga. It is found in Central and South America, and has three subspecies. The sunbittern shows both morphological and molecular similarities with the kagu of New Caledonia, indicating a Gondwanan origin, both species being placed in the clade Eurypygiformes.

Loading map...

Distribution

Region

Central and South America (Neotropics)

Typical Environment

Found from southern Mexico and Central America through the Andes foothills and Amazon Basin to Bolivia, Brazil, and the Guianas. It favors lowland and foothill tropical forests near clear streams, rivers, oxbow lakes, and wetlands with ample overhanging vegetation. Often seen along shaded creek banks, sandbars, and forested river margins. Tolerates secondary forest and gallery forest as long as shallow, slow-moving water is present.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1500 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size46–53 cm

Wing Span52–63 cm

Male Weight0.22 kg

Female Weight0.24 kg

Life Expectancy10 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The sunbittern unfurls spectacular wing fans with bold eye-like patterns to startle predators and in courtship displays. It is the sole member of its family and is closely related to the kagu of New Caledonia. A master of camouflage, it blends into dappled streamside habitats. Pairs often maintain territories along shaded forest creeks and nest above water.

Gallery

Head

The sunbittern will open its wings to display two large eye spots when threatened

A sunbittern on display in the Natural History Museum, London.

Breeding

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with brief glides; reluctant flier

Social Behavior

Usually encountered alone or in pairs that defend linear territories along waterways. Pairs are monogamous and build platform nests above water, where they lay two eggs. Both parents incubate and care for the young, which are well camouflaged and precocial.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Vocalizations are clear, whistled notes and piping calls that carry along rivers, often given at dawn. Also produces soft clucks and whistles during pair interactions and display.

Unlock detailed bird insights with Pro access today.

Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Sunda brush cuckoo

The Sunda brush cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It was formerly treated as conspecific with the Sulawesi brush cuckoo with the English name "rusty-breasted cuckoo".

Sunda collared dove

The Sunda collared dove, sometimes referred to as the island collared dove, Javanese turtle dove, Javanese collared dove, or Indonesian collared dove, is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. Sometimes confused with the Eurasian collared dove which is very similar in appearance, the Sunda collared dove is a small to medium-sized bird, native to the tropical and subtropical islands of Indonesia.

Sunda coucal

The Sunda coucal, also known as the Javanese lathe, is a cuckoo species in the family Cuculidae that is endemic to Java, Indonesia. It inhabits mangroves, freshwater swamp forests and grasslands near brackish water. It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1994, as the small population is threatened by habitat destruction and trapping. It feeds on grasshoppers, ground beetles, moths, geckos, snakes and frogs; it was also observed while picking rice seeds in a paddy field.

Sunda crow

The Sunda crow is a passerine bird of the family Corvidae that is found in South-East Asia, from Malaysia to Borneo. The Sunda crow is part of the Corvus enca species complex, which was formerly treated as a single species and known as the slender-billed crow. The complex is now treated as five species, after four subspecies were split off as distinct species: the Samar crow or small crow, the Palawan crow, the Sulawesi crow and the Sierra Madre crow. The violet crow was also once included, but has been shown to be distinct genetically and separated as Corvus violaceus.

Sunda cuckoo

The Sunda cuckoo or Sunda lesser cuckoo is a South-east Asian bird belonging to the genus Cuculus in the cuckoo family, Cuculidae. It was formerly classified with the Himalayan cuckoo and Oriental cuckoo in a single species, C. saturatus, but is now often regarded as a separate species based on differences in voice, size and plumage.