Finfoot
Finfoots are a group of three species of birds belonging to the family Heliornithidae, primarily found along the edges of rivers and lakes in tropical forests across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. These shy birds are adept swimmers and have unique adaptations, such as lobed feet that resemble webbed feet, allowing them to navigate aquatic environments effectively. The smallest species, the American finfoot or sungrebe, measures about 11 to 12 inches long and is characterized by its olive-brown plumage and vibrant scarlet bill. The African finfoot, the largest of the three, can reach lengths of up to 25.5 inches and features a striking dark green head and orange-red legs.
Finfoots primarily feed on aquatic organisms, including frogs, fish, and insects, and they are known to hide in dense vegetation when disturbed. Breeding practices vary among the species, with American finfoots exhibiting a unique behavior of carrying their naked chicks in special skin folds under their wings. Unfortunately, the masked finfoot has become critically endangered due to habitat destruction caused by agriculture and climate change, highlighting the conservation challenges faced by these fascinating birds.
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Finfoot
The three species of finfoots live along the edges of rivers and lakes in tropical forests. Whether flying, swimming, running, or walking, finfoots are shy and quickly hide when disturbed. They may run ashore for the cover of dense vegetation or swim away with only their heads and necks above the surface.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Heliornithidae
Genus: Various (see below)
Species: Various (see below)
Finfoots live deep in the tropical forests of Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. The smallest finfoot, called the American finfoot or sungrebe, is between 11 and 12 inches (28 to 30 1/2 centimeters) long. This species lives on the American continents from Mexico to northern Argentina. A scarlet bill and black and yellow feet add color to its olive-brown plumage (feathering). The masked finfoot inhabits the tropical forests from Malaya through Sumatra. The masked finfoot's brown and white-spotted body measures 17 to 21 1/2 inches (43 to 55 centimeters) long, and it has a yellow bill with green legs and feet. The African finfoot is the largest finfoot at 13 3/4 to 25 1/2 (35 to 65 centimeters) long. A dark green head and neck are attached to the brown, white-spotted body. Its bill and legs are orange-red. Each species has lobed feet for swimming similar to grebes' and coots'. The lobes of flesh and skin between the toes make the feet look webbed. The finfoots' long necks and stiffened tails resemble those of other diving birds like cormorants.
As finfoots swim, they eat frogs, tiny fish, crustacea, mollusks, and aquatic insects and their larvae. If disturbed or frightened, these shy birds hide in the dense vegetation or swim away with their bodies submerged and only their heads and necks above the surface. When the finfoot flies from the water, its feet splash across the surface before it clears the water. Finfoots spend more time in the water and on the ground than flying. Masked finfoots may migrate in winter from Thailand to Malaysia, but it is unknown if the other species migrate.
African and American finfoots lay clutches, or batches, of one to three eggs while masked finfoots may lay five to seven reddish-brown or creamy white eggs. The eggs incubate in nests of twigs and rushes lined with grass and leaves. Finfoots build nests on low branches or ground debris deposited by floods. Both parents in the American species build the nest and incubate the eggs for 10 to 11 days. The young are born naked and helpless. American finfoots carry their young in the water and during flight before the hatchlings' eyes open. The adults have special skin folds under each wing forming pockets where the chicks snuggle comfortably. The young rest securely in the pouches because the parents' muscles hold them in place. It is thought that only the males carry the young. The female African finfoot incubates the eggs for a minimum of 12 days. African and masked finfoots can swim and leave the nest only days after hatching.
The masked finfoot became endangered in 2009. In 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the birds as critically endangered, with only a few hundred remaining in the wild. Hunting and egg collection have minimally impacted populations, while habitat destruction from agricultural deforestation, gold mining, dam construction, and climate change have sharply decreased populations.
The three species of finfoots:
African finfoot Podica senegalensis
American finfoot, or sungrebe Heliornis fulica
Masked finfoot Heliopais personatus
Bibliography
"African Finfoot." Animalia, animalia.bio/african-finfoot. Accessed 5 Apr. 2024.
Winkler, D. W., S. M. Billerman, and I. J. Lovette. "Finfoots (Heliornithidae)." Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2020, birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/helior1/cur/introduction. Accessed 5 Apr. 2024.