Updated geographical distribution of the Sunbittern (<i>Eurypyga helias</i>: Eurypigidae)

Abstract

The Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias), despite having a wide distribution, is poorly studied and with few records in its area of distribution. Updating the distributions of species allows us to understand distributional patterns which are useful in ecology and conservation, especially for rare or threatened species. Given this situation for E. helias and the new records outside its historical range, here we present its updated distribution and a new record in the south of the Middle Magdalena Valley in Colombia. Using occurrences with preserved specimens and photographic records we build an Ecological Niche Model using the algorithm implemented in MaxEnt. The new record was found in the municipality of La Belleza, Santander in northern Colombia. Its range extends approximately 200 km south of its historical distribution. In Venezuela, it could reach the northern part near the foothills of the Cordilleras Central and Oriental. In Bolivia to the south over the Chiquitano Forest. In Central America, it extends to the lowlands near the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Volcánica Central, and in North America to southern Mexico. The model suggests that tropical lowlands are more suitable for the species than cold temperate zones, also, the Middle Magdalena Valley is a suitable area, however, the species prefers forested and preserved areas. Some distribution patterns could be explained by different biogeographical barriers, but phylogeographical analyzes are needed to test this hypothesis.