Pelican Yoga Posts

“Our” planet has only one “simply red” wading bird species.

Outside of zoos, Eudocimus ruber – the scarlet ibis/ red ibis – can only be seen in warm, wet parts of the Caribbean & tropical South America.

The pictured scarlet ibis were part of a large group of these highly-sociable birds, gathered in & around a river near Villavicencio on the first afternoon of March, this year.

We could scarcely believe our eyes!

Just about everything about the sunbittern is misleading, including its name.

It is not a bittern.

Being wary/ “shy” – & predatory – this elusive bird generally favours shaded rather than sunny places – usually, near riverbanks in warm, humid South & Central American forests.

Eurypyga helias is the only member of its genus & of its family.

It is neither a heron nor a rail, but looks as if it just might be closely-related; it is not.

When undisturbed & engaged in hunting, or tending to its young, a sunbittern has a “well-camouflaged” appearance.

Its interesting but subdued plumage does bear a vague resemblance to a bittern’s.

However, when alarmed/threatened – or when basking in sunlight – this species spreads its wings…& suddenly reveals some of the most spectacular plumage of any bird species!