Sungrebes: Heliornithidae

Sungrebes have long necks and slender bodies. They have brown backs and a long white stripe that extends down the side of the neck. Male and female sungrebes tend to have slightly different coloration on the heads and necks. The brightly colored bills of sungrebes are sharp and pointed, and the tail is long and broad. In one species, the African finfoot, the tail feathers are stiffened, and the tail is spread out on the water during swimming. All three species of sungrebes have brightly colored feet. These are orange in the African finfoot, green in the masked finfoot, and yellow with black stripes in the sungrebe.