Sunbittern

Physical features

• Sunbitterns have a long, thin neck, long tail, and long pointed, spear-like bill that is useful for hunting and catching prey.

• Their head is dark in color with the exception of a white stripe above and below their eyes. The eyes have red irises. The top section of the bill (the mandible) is a brownish black color. The lower section of the bill (the maxilla) is a bright orange. The legs and feet are also an orange color.

• Plumage is brown, black, and white in a barred pattern. In contrast, their wings and tail have a vivid pattern that is chestnut, gold, and black. The sunbittern has an impressive threat display, using mainly its wings, which show the bright eyespots when fully spread. There’s no documented evidence of the display being used for courtship, only threat and defense.

• They are named for the bright eyespots on the wings that have a sun-like appearance.

• They have a short hallux, the backward pointing digit on the foot, like shorebirds and rails.

• Sunbitterns weigh between 180-220 grams (less than a half pound) and 17-19 inches tall and 18-20 inches in length.

Diet: Carnivore

• Wild – Insects like cockroaches, dragonfly larvae, files, katydids, water beetles and moths. Other invertebrate prey includes crabs, spiders, shrimps and earthworms. Small vertebrate prey including fish, tadpoles, toads and frogs, eels and lizards.

• Zoo – Fish, meat, dog food, pinky mice, insects

Reproduction

• Found alone or in pairs

• Sunbitterns start nesting in the early wet season and before it starts they make flight displays 33-49 feet high in the forest canopy.

• Males and females work together to build open nests in trees. Nests are made out of decaying leaves, sticks, and moss, held together by mud.

• They lay two eggs that vary in color from pinkish to yellowish brown with blotched markings. Eggs are laid May-August, depending on specific region.

• Incubation is 27 days with both parents taking turns sitting on the nest.

• The young are precocial, and remain in the nest for several weeks after hatching. Both parents participate in the care of chicks. By two months they look like their parents.

• If a predator approaches the nest, one of the parents will behave as if it has a broken wing to distract the predator.

Interpretive Information

• Terrestrial species, usually walking rather than flying.

• Sunbitterns are one of 12 species of birds in five families that have been described as fishing using baits or lures to attract prey to within striking distance. This type of behavior falls within the common definition of tool use. In sunbitterns this behavior has only been observed in captive birds so far.

• Predators include snakes, caiman, and bird of prey. Small mammals and snakes will also prey upon their eggs and chicks.

• When vocalizing, this species makes sounds such as a descending whistling song, short whistles, trills, rattling, hissing when alarmed, and bill clacking.

• Sunbitterns are related to rails and bustards.

Updated June 2018