Nombre en español: Garza del Sol
Nombre en ingles: Sunbittern
Nombre científico: Eurypyga helias
Familia: Eurypygidae
Foto: Rodrigo Gaviria/Carlos Mario Bran
Canto: Ricardo José Mitidieri
La tigana, tepozcalcarau, pavito de agua, ave sol, garza del sol o tamrilla (Eurypyga helias) es una especie de ave del orden Euripygyformes, única representante de su género (Eurypyga) y de su familia(Eurypygidae). Habita en las regiones tropicales de América.
Descripción
El colorido plumaje de la tigana
Esta es un ave esbelta con un andar pausado. Mide de 43 a 48 cm, y tiene un peso de 250 gramos aproximadamente. Pico anaranjado con la base de color negro y el iris rojizo.
El color de las alas es el detalle más llamativo, son de color castaño, amarillo, negro, blanco, oliva y gris con dos franjas castaño y negro; y las despliega en el cortejo. En vuelo, puede verse un ocelo grande y oscuro en cada ala. Los colores luminosos también se usan para sobresaltar a los predadores potenciales.
Hábitat
Frecuenta los arroyos de zonas forestales, en zonas no por encima de los 900m mientras caza los peces de la misma manera que una garza.
Comportamiento
Forrajean solas o en parejas a lo largo de la orilla en busca de cangrejos de río, larvas de insectos, arañas, ranas pequeñas, cangrejos y pequeños peces. Cazan en silencio con los cuerpos inclinados, prestas a capturar la presa con un rápido golpe de pico. Cuando se las molesta se elevan volando a los árboles. Sus vuelos son cortos.
El nido abovedado se construye en un árbol. Anida entre marzo y junio del hemisferio norte. Ponen dos huevos grandes de color rosado con manchas oscuras.
Taxonomía
Tradicionalmente ha sido clasificado dentro de Gruiformes, y morfológicamente está cerca de las garzas y sus parientes. Actualmente muchos autores la clasifican junto con el kagú (Rhynochetos jubatus) (otro antiguo miembro del orden Gruiformes) dentro de su propio orden Eurypygiformes. Aun así, otros siguen clasificándoles dentro de Gruiformes.
Subespecies
Se reconocen tres subespecies de Eurypyga helias:
- Eurypyga helias major – Extremo sur México y Guatemala a oeste de Ecuador
- Eurypyga helias meridionalis – Sur y centro de Perú (Junín y Cuzco)
- Eurypyga helias helias – Colombia a Venezuela, las Guayanas, la Amazonia de Brasil y el este de Bolivia.
Sunbittern
The sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas, and the sole member of the family Eurypygidae (sometimes spelled Eurypigidae) and genus Eurypyga. It is found in Central and South America, and has three subspecies. The sunbittern shows both morphological and molecular similarities with the kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus) of New Caledonia, indicating a gondwanic origin, both species being placed in the cladeEurypygiformes.
Taxonomy
The sunbittern is usually placed in the Gruiformes, but this was always considered preliminary. Altogether, the bird is most similar to another bird that was provisionally placed in the Gruiformes, the kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus). Molecular studies seem to confirm that the kagu and sunbittern are each other’s closest living relatives and have a similar wing display. They are probably not Gruiformes (though the proposed Metaves are just as weakly supported). Altogether, the two species seem to form a minor Gondwanan lineage which could also include the extinct adzebills and/or the mesites, and is of unclear relation to the Gruiformes proper. Notably, the kagu and mesites also have powder down.
Subspecies
The sunbittern was formerly treated as two species (E. helias and E. major), but now they are treated as a single species with considerable variation between the subspecies. The three subspecies are recognised on the basis of plumage characters and size. The three subspecies are allopatric.
- E. h. helias (Pallas, 1781) – Amazonian sunbittern
- E. h. major Hartlaub, 1844 – northern sunbittern
- E. h. meridionalis Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1902 – foothill sunbittern
Description
Head
The bird has a generally subdued coloration, with fine linear patterns of black, grey and brown. Its remiges however have vividly colored middle webs, which with wings fully spread show bright eyespots in red, yellow, and black. These are shown to other sunbitterns in courtship and threat displays, or used to startle potential predators. Male and female adult sunbitterns can be differentiated by small differences in the feather patterns of the throat and head. Like some other birds, the sunbittern has powder down.
The sunbittern has a long and pointed bill that is black above, and a short hallux as in shorebirds and rails. In the South American subspecies found in lowlands east of the Andes, the upperparts are mainly brown, and the legs and lower mandible are orange-yellow. The two other subspecies are greyer above, and their legs and bill are sometimes redder.
Distribution and habitat
The sunbittern’s range extends from Guatemala to Brazil. The nominate race, E. h. helias, is found east of the Andes in lowland tropical South America, from the Orinoco basin, through the Amazon basin and Pantanal. The subspeciesE. h. meridionalis, has a more restricted distribution, being found along the East Andean slope in south-central Peru, in the lower subtropical zone at altitudes of 800–1,830 m (2,620–6,000 ft). The final subspecies, E. h. major, is found at various altitudes ranging from southern Guatemala, through Central America and the Chocó to western Ecuador. This subspecies may also be present in southern Mexico. It has been traditionally reported from the Atlantic slope of Chiapas, but no specimens are known and there have been no recent records.[8]
The species is found in the humid Neotropical forests, generally with an open understorey and near rivers, streams, ponds or lagoons.
Behaviour and ecology
The sunbittern will open its wings to display two large eye spots when threatened
They are cryptic birds that display their large wings, that exhibits a pattern that resemble eyes, when they feel threatened.
Feeding
The sunbittern consumes a wide range of animal prey. Insects form an important part of the diet, with cockroaches, dragonfly larvae, files, katydids, water beetles and moths being taken. Other invertebrate prey includes crabs, spiders, shrimps and earthworms. They will also take vertebrate prey including fish, tadpoles, toads and frogs, eels and lizards.
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 behaviour falls within the common definition of tool use. In sunbitterns this behaviour has only been observed in captive birds so far.
Breeding
Sunbitterns start nesting in the early wet season and before it starts they make flight displays 10–15 m (33–49 ft) high in the forest canopy. They build open nests in trees, and lay two eggs with blotched markings. The young are precocial, but remain in the nest for several weeks after hatching.
Wikipedia/eBird/xeno-canto