The Story
This Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) walked along a moss-covered log near La Macarena, in Meta, Colombia, its finely barred gray, brown and black plumage in full view. It is the only member of its family and genus, and its closest living relative appears to be the Kagu of New Caledonia. When it spreads its wings it shows bright eyespots in red, yellow and black, used in courtship and threat displays and to startle predators. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
I made this frame with a Canon R5 and the RF 800mm f/11 plus the RF 1.4x extender, at 1/125 sec, f/16, ISO 1600. La Macarena sits beside Sierra de la Macarena National Park, and visits to Caño Cristales are organized through local associations of guides and boat operators.
©2023 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) belongs to the family Eurypygidae (Sunbittern) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2020), with the population trend listed as decreasing. Source: IUCN Red List