2013 Bonanza Bird #29: Least Bittern

July 29, 2013 in Birdorable Bonanza 2013 and Herons with 5 comments

We’re adding new birds each day until we reach our 500th Birdorable species! Today’s Bonanza bird is species #498 overall: the Least Bittern.

Least Bitterns are very small herons found in freshwater or brackish wetland-type habitats in the Americas. They are the smallest species of heron found within their range.

Least Bittern by Maureen Leong-Kee (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Least Bitterns are usually found in reed beds, sometimes over rather deep water. They can hunt for small prey like fish, frogs, and insects in water that is too deep for wading birds to enter. They perch on or straddle reeds and look down for prey. If they see something tasty, they stab into the water with their long, pointed beaks.

Tune in tomorrow to see #499! Wednesday we will reveal our 500th Birdorable!

Comments

ILOVEBIRDS! on August 5, 2013 at 5:36 AM wrote:

Uhmmm

Louise Warner on March 2, 2017 at 3:49 PM wrote:

what's in the background?

Andrew on November 22, 2018 at 3:59 PM wrote:

least bittern is yellow feathers his name's lily

Spurwing Plover on April 12, 2020 at 4:59 AM wrote:

Least Bittern smallists Heron the one in the picture is a Male reconized by his black cap and back and THE BITTER BITER BITTERN,BIT THE BETTER BROTHER BITTERN,AND THE BETTER BROTHER BITTERN BIT THE BITTER BITER BACK

Spurwing Plover on May 22, 2022 at 5:36 PM wrote:

Male has Black Cap and Back

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