sun bittern

sun bittern
a graceful South American wading bird, Eurypyga helias, related to the cranes and rails, having variegated plumage.
[1865-70]

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▪ bird
 (species Eurypyga helias), slender bird of tropical America, the sole member of the family Eurypygidae (order Gruiformes). It has strikingly patterned wings, which the male spreads in courtship and threat displays. The sun bittern is about 43 cm (17 inches) long, with full wings and a long tail beautifully marked in browns, yellows, black, and white. It lives on the ground along forest streams and feeds on insects and crustaceans caught using its bill. It builds a bulky nest in trees and lays two or three rusty to brownish eggs that are incubated by both sexes.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sun bittern — Sun Sun, n. [OE. sunne, sonne, AS. sunne; akin to OFries. sunne, D. zon, OS. & OHG. sunna, G. sonne, Icel. sunna, Goth. sunna; perh. fr. same root as L. sol. [root]297. Cf. {Solar}, {South}.] 1. The luminous orb, the light of which constitutes… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sun bittern — Bittern Bit tern, n. [OE. bitoure, betore, bitter, fr. F. butor; of unknown origin.] (Zo[ o]l.) A wading bird of the genus {Botaurus}, allied to the herons, of various species. [1913 Webster] Note: The common European bittern is {Botaurus… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sun bittern — n. a tropical American wading bird (Eurypyga helias) of a gruiform family (Eurypygidae) having only one species, with a slim body and long neck …   English World dictionary

  • sun bittern — noun : sun grebe * * * a graceful South American wading bird, Eurypyga helias, related to the cranes and rails, having variegated plumage. [1865 70] * * * sun bittern noun A S American wading bird (Eurypyga helias) with brilliant many coloured… …   Useful english dictionary

  • sun bittern — sun′ bit tern n. orn a graceful Neotropical wading bird, Eurypyga helias, related to the cranes and rails, having variegated plumage that produces a sunburst effect when spread in display • Etymology: 1865–70 …   From formal English to slang

  • sun bittern — /ˈsʌn bɪtn/ (say sun bitn) noun a South American bird, Eurypyga helias, with variegated plumage, superficially resembling a bittern, but allied to the rails …  

  • sun bittern — n. tropical American wading bird with mottled brownish plumage that show chestnut markings like a sunburst when its wings are spread …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Sun — Sun, n. [OE. sunne, sonne, AS. sunne; akin to OFries. sunne, D. zon, OS. & OHG. sunna, G. sonne, Icel. sunna, Goth. sunna; perh. fr. same root as L. sol. [root]297. Cf. {Solar}, {South}.] 1. The luminous orb, the light of which constitutes day,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sun and planet wheels — Sun Sun, n. [OE. sunne, sonne, AS. sunne; akin to OFries. sunne, D. zon, OS. & OHG. sunna, G. sonne, Icel. sunna, Goth. sunna; perh. fr. same root as L. sol. [root]297. Cf. {Solar}, {South}.] 1. The luminous orb, the light of which constitutes… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sun angel — Sun Sun, n. [OE. sunne, sonne, AS. sunne; akin to OFries. sunne, D. zon, OS. & OHG. sunna, G. sonne, Icel. sunna, Goth. sunna; perh. fr. same root as L. sol. [root]297. Cf. {Solar}, {South}.] 1. The luminous orb, the light of which constitutes… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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