#eurypygiformes

Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias), family Eurypygidae, order Eurypygiformes, found in southern Central America and northern South America

This bird is the only member of its family.

Its closest living relative is the Kagu of New Caldeonia.

(Sources - 1, 2)

Our next group is the unique order, Eurypygiformes, which is composed of two living species within two families: Rhynochetidae (“Kagu”) and Eurypygidae (“Sunbittern”).

The Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus) (image 1 and gif below) is a crested, long-legged, bluish-grey bird endemic to the dense mountain forests of New Caledonia, restricted to the main island of Grande Terre. Its beak has “nasal corns”, structures covering its nostrils, a unique feature not shared with any other bird. It is nearly flightless, and spends all its time on or near the ground. Its bright red legs are long and strong, enabling the bird to travel long distances on foot and run quickly. Its crest is used to display to other Kagu, and is barely noticeable when at rest. Its wings are also used for display. The Kagu is exclusively carnivorous, feeding on a variety of animals, with annelid worms, snails, and lizards being favorites. Their hunting technique is to stand motionless on the ground or from an elevated perch, and silently watch for moving prey.

Kagu are territorial, maintaining year-round territories of around 10–28 hectares (25–69 acres). They have a clan-based social organization, with families composed of one breeding female and one to three breeding males. Kagu are monogamous breeders, generally forming long-term pair bonds that are maintained for many years. Within the territory the pairs are solitary during the non-breeding season, and may have separate but overlapping foraging areas. A single nesting attempt is made each year, where a simple nest is constructed, which is little more than a heaped pile of leaves. A single, grey, slightly blotched egg is laid. Each parent will incubate the egg for 24 hours, with the changeover occurring around noon each day. After hatching, the offspring may remain in their parents' territory for many years after fledging, sometimes up to six years. Male offspring will help defend the territory of their parents.

The Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) (image 2) is a wading bird of tropical regions of the Americas, convergent with herons. It has generally subdued coloration, but bright red eyespots on its spread-out wings. These are shown to other sunbitterns in courtship and threat displays, or used to startle potential predators. They have a long, sharp beak which is used to catch a variety of prey, with cockroaches, dragonfly larvae, flies, katydids, water beetles, and moths being favorites. They will also take vertebrate prey like tadpoles, fish, and lizards.

Sunbitterns are generally solitary or found in pairs, especially during the breeding season. During the breeding season they will make flight displays high in the forest canopy. Monogamous pairs form which will stay together for many years. They build an open nest in a tree, and lay two eggs with blotched markings. Both parents incubate the eggs, and the young remain in the nest for several weeks after hatching. Both the Kagu and the Sunbittern have a “broken-wing” display, used to fake an injury and draw the attention of a predator away from their young.

The Eurypygiformes evolved in the Early Eocene.

(source)

Propaganda under the cut:

Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus)

A sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) stretches, showing off the pattern on its wings in Costa Rica

Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus)