When the Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) spreads its wings, it reveals the spectacular sunburst pattern for which it is named – bright eyespots in red, yellow, and black. It is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas, and the sole member of the family Eurypygidae and genus Eurypyga. Found singly or in pairs, they are native to the thick, tropical jungles and swamps of Central and South America. The Sunbittern is normally found near wooded streams or creeks at elevations of up to 900 m. It hunts fish and other small vertebrates much in the same way as herons do. Sunbitterns rarely fly, but, rather, walk slowly upon long, bright orange legs, holding their snakelike necks parallel to the ground.
