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Least Bittern

Ixobrychus exilisOrder: CICONIIFORMESFamily: Bitterns, Herons and Egrets (Ardeidae)
Least-Bittern Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Dagger
  • Eye Color: Yellow.
  • Head Pattern: Capped
  • Crown Color: Black
  • Forehead Color: Black
  • Nape Color: Red-buff
  • Throat Color: White
  • Cere color: No Data
Least-Bittern Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 28-36 cm (11-14 in)
  • Weight: 85 g (3 oz)
  • Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color: Green, Tan, White, Black, Buff
  • Underparts: White
  • Upperparts: Black
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Striped or streaked

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Weak direct flight with slow labored wing beats.
  • Wingspan Range: 41-46 cm (16-18 in)
  • Wing Shape: Broad-Wings, Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Black
  • Under Tail: White
  • Leg Color: Yellow
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Family Bittern (Ardeidae)_blue
Species Ixobrychus exilis
Length11 - 14 Inches
Wingspan17 Inches

Least Bittern

Least Bittern: Very small, secretive heron with black cap and back, and white throat and belly. Wings have conspicuous pale brown patches visible in flight. The bill, legs and feet are yellow. Feeds on fish, insects, small amphibians, crustaceans and invertebrates.

● Song: "coo-coo-coo"

● Foraging & Feeding: Least Bittern: Diet consists of small fish, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, leeches, slugs, crayfish, dragonflies, aquatic bugs, and occasionally shrews and mice.

● Breeding & nesting: Least Bittern: Two to seven pale blue to green eggs are laid in a platform nest made of dead and living plant stems, and built about a foot above the water, usually at the base of dried, emergent vegetation. Incubation ranges from 17 to 20 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Least Bittern: Green Heron lacks buff on head and wings.

Flight Pattern

Weak direct flight with slow labored wing beats.
Least-Bittern Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Least Bittern: Breeds in wetland areas throughout the eastern U.S. and along the Pacific coast. Spends winters from the southern states south to Colombia. Found in dense marshlands supporting cattails and reeds.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationDeclining
MigrationMigratory
Weight3 Ounces