Sungrebe (Heliornis fulica)

BirdWetlandAmericas

Overview

The sungrebe (Heliornis fulica) is a small, slender, secretive waterbird of the American tropics and a member of the finfoot family (Heliornithidae), named for the lobed, brightly banded toes that propel it through the water. Olive-brown above and pale below, with a boldly striped head and neck, the sungrebe slips quietly along shaded, overhung waterways, swimming low with a distinctive bobbing motion and rarely straying far from cover.

It is one of the most remarkable birds in the world for a single astonishing reason: the male can carry his tiny chicks tucked into pouches of skin under his wings — and can even fly while doing so.

Note: the sungrebe is the only American finfoot; details here focus on it. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Sungrebes live along quiet, vegetated freshwater — slow rivers, streams, lagoons, oxbow lakes, and swamps with overhanging trees and dense waterside cover — from Mexico through Central America and across much of tropical South America. They keep to shaded, sheltered water and are easily overlooked, which is part of why they are so seldom seen.

Diet

Sungrebes are carnivores that forage along the water's edge and over the surface, taking insects and other invertebrates, plus small aquatic animals such as spiders, snails, and tiny vertebrates. They glean prey from overhanging vegetation and the waterline as they swim quietly beneath the cover of the bank.

Behavior

The sungrebe's most extraordinary feature is its parenting. In a way unique among birds, the male has shallow pockets of skin under each wing, held closed by a fold, into which he can tuck his very small, still-helpless chicks. He can then swim — and even take flight — carrying the young hidden beneath his wings, a behaviour almost unbelievable for a bird. Otherwise sungrebes are shy and solitary or in pairs, swimming low with a bobbing head and quickly disappearing into cover when disturbed.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Sungrebes are rarely seen because of their secretive habits, but they are a much-wanted sighting for birdwatchers exploring tropical American waterways. They depend on quiet, well-vegetated freshwater, so loss or disturbance of those habitats is the main concern; the species remains fairly widespread. Consult authoritative sources for current status.

More photos of the sungrebe