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Sungrebes, when perching or on land, show boldly banded yellow and black legs and lobed feet. The body plumage is mostly varying shades of reddish brown. The head and neck are strikingly patterned with a black crown and nape and white stripes along the sides of its neck, as well as a white throat and chin. The long tail (almost a third of the total length) extends well beyond the body in flight, and sits fanned out on or just below the surface of the water while the bird swims. Sungrebes are sexually dimorphic. Voice: Sungrebes use a series of 4-7 descending hoots as an advertising call before and after territorial encounters. During interactions they produce a yodeling quack similar to grebes and some diving ducks. They use a series of shorter, sharper barks and clicks when moving away from a threat.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Sungrebe
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 11 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Sungrebe
The map shades 20 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States.
About the Sungrebe
The sungrebe or American finfoot is a small aquatic gruiform found in the tropical and subtropical Americas from northeastern Mexico to central Ecuador and southern Brazil.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
African FinfootPodica senegalensisThe African finfoot is an underwater specialist with a long neck, a striking sharp beak, and bright red, lobed feet.
Masked FinfootHeliopais personatusThe masked finfoot is an underwater specialist with a long neck, a striking sharp beak, and lobed feet which are green.
Side by side: African Finfoot vs Sungrebe
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