An adult female of the African Finfoot
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Heliornithidae
Genera: Podica senegalensis
Species: Heliornis fulica, Heliopais personata

Heliornithidae refers to a relatively small family of beautiful tropical birds whose main feature is a pair of webbed lobes on the feet. The webbing is similar to that coots or grebes. This family is commonly referred to as finfoots on the overall, although there is a constituted species that is commonly known as Sungrebe. Heliornithidae is comprised of three species, all in three genera.

The three species include:

• The African Finfoot which is found mostly in the tropical Africa especially on the streams within woodlands
• The Masked Finfoot which has a more scattered distribution ranging from Eastern India through the Southeast Asia and all the way to Wallace Line
• The Sungrebe, which is found mainly in the tropical Central and South America regions Species Description

Of all birds, the Heliornithidae are the most secretive such that most aspects of their biological makeup are still unknown to modern science. The Heliornithidae resemble rails in that they have very long necks that emerge from overly slender bodies. This shape is then enhanced by broad tails. The legs themselves together with the feet have a bright color (usually red). To facilitate their lifestyle, the Heliornithidae can walk comfortably on land as well as on water.

They are armed with a sharp and very pointed bill, a necessary tool when hunting on the water surface or on land. Although the Heliornithidae are normally very quiet, they occasionally give a diverse array of calls that are distinctively high pitched.

Habitat

Heliornithidae are to be found in series of habitats mostly in the tropics. As long as you have some water (stream, ponds, lakes etc) and some cover (woodland), the Heliornithidae will be around. Researchers still do not understand why cover is always so essential to the birds but as already stated they are an extremely secretive family. They will be found in coastal creeks as well as in fast-moving streams on mountaintops. High numbers will especially flock in large slow moving water bodies. At other times, they will inhabit swamps, mangroves, reed beds and even forests.

Nevertheless, even with their unselective habitation, finfoots are fiercely territorial, all the year round and especially when breeding. Uniquely, Heliornithidae are not known to migrate regularly. But if the habitat becomes inhabitable, the birds disperse to colonize new habitats in suitable areas.

Feeding Habits

Heliornithidae normally feed on a ranging variety of foods, although insects are their favorite diet. Researchers also believe that they eat crustaceans, mollusks, spiders, fish frogs and some seeds and leaves. Heliornithidae never dive to hunt for food. Rather, they pick their prey off the surface of the water or forage on the shore.

Breeding

The three species of Heliornithidae breed every after a wet season, with the timing fully dependent on the locality’s climate. Again, all the three species undergo some appearance changes prior to the breeding season. Masked Finfoots grow a fleshy knob just above their bills. The plumage of African Finfoots and Sungrebes also alter considerably before breeding. The breeding nests are untidy bowls of twigs, sticks and reeds that are suspended on the vegetation that is above the water.

Conclusion

Though little is documented about the numbers of the Heliornithidae, research is ongoing even to establish more details about their biological characteristics and behaviors. Currently however, they are not considered an endangered or threatened species.