Sapayoa

The sapayoa, or broad-billed sapayoa (Sapayoa aenigma), is a small, elusive bird native to the rainforests of Panama and north-western South America. Despite its low profile, it's commonly found across a broad range and isn't endangered. Initially classified among New World suboscines and believed to be related to manakins, DNA analysis has since suggested its lineage is more closely allied with Old World suboscines, possibly the broadbills, and its ancestors may have traveled from Australia-New Guinea to South America. Currently, the sapayoa is the only species in its unique family, Sapayoidae. Olive-colored with a paler underside and a yellowish throat, sapayoas have a manakin-like appearance but with a broader bill and longer tail. They prefer forest understories near streams and ravines and are known to forage in pairs or mixed-species flocks, feeding on fruit and insects. The sapayoa's nest, typically found above water, is a pear-shaped structure hanging from a branch, with fibers trailing underneath and an entrance on the side. While once thought to be monogamous, there is evidence that sapayoas might engage in cooperative breeding.