Sunbittern | ||||||||||||||
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Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
Eurypiga helias |
The Sunbittern, Eurypiga helias is a bittern-like bird of tropical America. It is however more closely related to the railss, but is in a family of its own, Eurypigidae .
It frequents forest streams, hunting fish in the same way as a heron. The wings are patterned with black, grey and brown, and are displayed in courtship.
The domed nest is built in a tree. Two grey eggs are laid.
The relationships of this species are shown below
Gruiformes
- Gruidae: craness
- Aramidae: Limpkin
- Psophiidae: trumpeterss
- Rallidae: railss and crakes
- Heliornithidae: finfoots and sungrebes
- Rhynochetidae: Kagu
- Eurypigidae: Sunbittern
- Cariamidae: seriemas
- Otidae: bustards