Page 78 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BITTERNS AND HERONS
Order Ciconiiformes Family Ardeidae Species Ixobrychus minutus
Little Bittern narrowly

greenish gloss on streaked
large pale black upperparts neck
wing patch
light brown
black cap body
and back

bright buff
MALE neck JUVENILE
IN FLIGHT streaked
brown
back
streaked
below

pale wing
patch
FEMALE
MALE

his tiny heron is secretive and usually difficult to FLIGHT: quick, low, fast wingbeats, in sudden
Tsee, except in brief, fast flights low over marshy flurry; low over reedbed.
areas when the large, oval, pale wing patches catch the
eye. Occasionally, one will perch in view near the top
of a stem or at the edge of an overhanging willow, and
reveal its exquisite pattern. Males, especially, are
beautifully and delicately coloured, with very subtle
striping on the neck and a slight greenish gloss on the
black upperparts.
VOICE Short, nasal call; nocturnal “song” is
monotonously repeated single croak.
NESTING Small nest of stems in dense reeds or bush;
2–7 eggs; 1 brood; May–July.
FEEDING Hunts fish, frogs, shrimps, and big aquatic AQUATIC HUNTER
insects, using stealth and patience and sudden forward Shallow water with dense cover is ideal hunting territory for Little
lunges to catch prey. Bitterns, making them hard to see until they fly.
SIMILAR SPECIES
OCCURRENCE
SQUACCO HERON NIGHT HERON juvenile, Found from April to October in
juvenile, similar similar to juvenile;
to juvenile; see p.77 S and C Europe. Occupies reedbeds
see p.79 by rivers and marshes and also
white wings larger, darker, much smaller pools and flooded
pale head and spotted willow thickets. Rare spring
migrant in UK.
Seen in the UK
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 33–38cm (13–15in) Wingspan 49–58cm (19 1 ⁄2 –23in) Weight 140–150g (5–5 1 ⁄2oz)
Social Solitary Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Vulnerable†
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