Meet The Sunbittern (Eurypyga Helias), The Bird With Beautiful Color (10 Photos)

I think we can all agree that there are some pretty spectacular birds out there, with stunning plumage and eye-catching colors, it’s hard to believe some are even real. That is exactly the case when it comes to this bird, even the name sounds made up, but I assure you it is definitely real.

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.