Photo: L. Catchick / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sungrebe
Heliornis fulica
Sungrebe (Heliornis fulica) — Cranes & Rails of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 9 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sungrebe (Heliornis fulica) is a member of the Heliornithidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 132 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 Gruiformes
- Family Heliornithidae Finfoots
- Genus Heliornis
- Species fulica
Where it lives
Southeastern Mexico to northeastern Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 132 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Heliornithidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sungrebe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Sungrebe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sungrebe (Heliornis fulica) belongs to the Heliornithidae family of the order Gruiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA se Mexico to ne Argentina.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 132 g, with a wing length of about 14.2 cm and a tail of around 8.2 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 8.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sungrebe?
The Sungrebe is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 132 g.
Where does the Sungrebe live?
The Sungrebe is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA se Mexico to ne Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Sungrebe belong to?
The Sungrebe (Heliornis fulica) belongs to the Heliornithidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Sungrebe eat?
The Sungrebe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Sungrebe migrate?
The Sungrebe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sungrebe 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 Sungrebe make?
1 real field recording of the Sungrebe — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sungrebe's range?
The Sungrebe has a mapped global range of about 8.8 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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