Birds & Birding in Costa Rica: – Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded in Costa Rica, there is certainly lots to enjoy! With 12 of the world’s 18 life zones, its diverse landscapes, including tropical rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, and savannas, provide habitat for a wide range of iconic birds A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
SUNBITTERN – (Species Account Blog #73)
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Eurypygiformes,
- FAMILY: Eurypygidae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Eurypyga helias
One of the most dazzling of all the world’s birds; the intricate yellow, red, and black pattern on the spread wings is truly otherworldly. When standing, rather heronlike shape but with a more horizontal posture and longer tail. Also look for striped black-and-white head and barred back. Found singly or in pairs along rivers or swamps, usually standing quietly along the shore. (from Birds of the World)
SIMILAR SPECIES
Very distinctive. Possibly could be mistaken for a small heron, but Sunbitterns have much shorter legs and longer tails. The body in general also seems longer and more horizontally-oriented than a heron.
DISTRIBUTION
PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
In Costa Rica we observed a single Sunbittern along Ruta Nacional Secundaria 225 in Cartago Province along a tributary to the Rio Pejibaye.
PHOTO GALLERY
RECENT BLOG POSTS
View the five most recent Birds & Birding in Costa Rica series blog posts below.
- A Streak-headed Woodcreeper Feeds its Offspring Near the Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica
- PALE-BILLED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- HOFFMANN’S WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
Reflections of the Natural World 
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