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A photo of a American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
American Bittern

American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosus

The American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a species of wading bird in the heron family. It has a Nearctic distribution, breeding in Canada and the northern and central parts of the United States, and wintering in the U.S. Gulf Coast states, all of Florida into the Everglades, the Caribbean islands and parts of Central America. It is a well-camouflaged, solitary brown bird that unobtrusively inhabits marshes and the coarse vegetation at the edge of lakes and ponds. In the breeding season it is chiefly noticeable by the loud, booming call of the male. The nest is built just above the water, usually among bulrushes and cattails, where the female incubates the clutch of olive-colored eggs for about four weeks. The young leave the nest after two weeks and are fully fledged at six or seven weeks. The American bittern feeds mostly on fish but also eats other small vertebrates as well as crustaceans and insects. It is fairly common over its wide range, but its numbers are thought to be decreasing, especially in the south, because of habitat degradation. However the total population is large, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "Least Concern".
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American Bitterns on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
🦩
Jackie Brothers
Thursday 24 Aug 2023 - 6:16pm
United States
A map showing the sighting location
🦉
Samantha Knapp
Sunday 06 Aug 2023 - 6:00am
United States
A photo of a American Bittern photographed in Delafield-Hartland Waste Water Treatment Plant United States
Profile picture for Rogue Rogalinski
Rogue Rogalinski
Monday 31 Jul 2023 - 4:48pm
United States
A photo of a American Bittern photographed in Delta Ponds United States
🐓
Sonja Casarez
Thursday 27 Jul 2023 - 8:16pm
United States
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