Photo: Giles Laurent / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sunbittern
Eurypyga helias
Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) — Unusual & Unique Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
See what's near you right nowThe Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) is a member of the Eurypygidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 210 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Eurypygiformes
- Family Eurypygidae Sunbittern
- Genus Eurypyga
- Species helias
Quick facts
- Weight
- 210 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Eurypygidae
- Order
- Eurypygiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sunbittern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Sunbittern is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) belongs to the Eurypygidae family of the order Eurypygiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA Guatemala through Amazonia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 210 g, with a wing length of about 21.7 cm and a tail of around 14.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 8.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sunbittern?
The Sunbittern is a large bird that weighs around 210 g.
Where does the Sunbittern live?
The Sunbittern is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA Guatemala through Amazonia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Sunbittern belong to?
The Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) belongs to the Eurypygidae family, in the order Eurypygiformes.
What does the Sunbittern eat?
The Sunbittern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Sunbittern migrate?
The Sunbittern is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sunbittern endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Sunbittern make?
1 real field recording of the Sunbittern — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sunbittern's range?
The Sunbittern has a mapped global range of about 8.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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