The Sungrebe is one of the rarest and hardest birds to observe in the Iberá. A distant relative of the coots, it has a compact body, a long neck and brown plumage with black-and-white stripes on the head. Its feet are lobed, adapted for swimming. The female has a beige-cream throat and neck, while the male's are white with a black lateral stripe. It measures 28 to 31 cm. A little-studied species with elusive habits.
Behaviour
Solitary and very elusive. It frequents the edges of lagoons and channels with dense emergent vegetation. It swims with forward movements of the neck. A unique behavior: the male carries the chicks under his wings, only their little legs left dangling in view. It hunts small fish, aquatic insects and crustaceans.
How and when to see it
Year round, though rarely visible. The best chances come by navigating silently at dawn along narrow channels with vegetation on both sides.
Where to see it in the Iberá
The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where sungrebe has confirmed presence:
Tours to see it
Verified providers operating at the gateways where sungrebe lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.
- Esteros Ñe’é
Experiences with local storytelling and a cultural take on the marshes.★ 5.0 - Gaucho Argentino
Horseback journeys across a network of refuges in Iberá. Multi-day rides with overnight…★ 5.0 - Jurassic Plant - Night Tour
The only carnivorous-plant garden in Argentina and a pioneer in Latin America. A guided…★ 5.0 - Irupé Excursiones
Guided hiking. Guided visit to museums, historic sites, chapels and trails of the town…★ 5.0
Species profile
- Common nameSungrebe
- Scientific nameHeliornis fulica
- GroupBird
- StatusNative
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