Dwarf Bittern

The Dwarf Bittern, a diminutive member of the heron family, Ardeidae, is a bird that shares its size with the Little Bittern, to which it is closely related. This species, Ixobrychus sturmii, is a small-statured bittern, presenting a modest silhouette among the reeds.

Distribution

The Dwarf Bittern boasts a broad African range, gracing countries such as Angola, Benin, and Botswana, stretching to Burkina Faso, Burundi, and beyond. Its presence is noted from Cameroon to the Central African Republic, Chad, and the Republic of the Congo, as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It frequents the Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, and Gabon, and is seen in Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, and Liberia. Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, and the Sudan also host this species. It extends its reach to Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Notably, it has been recorded as a rare vagrant in the Western Palearctic, including sightings in the Canary Islands, with two individuals observed in Fuerteventura during the winter of 2017.

Conservation Status

The Dwarf Bittern is currently classified as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.