American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION

• Length: 23 inches Wingspan: 45 inches

• Medium-sized wading bird

• Dark brown upperparts

• Underparts streaked brown and white

• Black malar streak

• Yellow bill with dark culmen

• Black primaries and secondaries

• Sometimes "freezes" with neck held upwards

• Immatures similar to adults but lack the malar streak

Similar species:

Least bittern is much smaller with buff wing coverts. Immature night-
herons have white spotting or streaking on the upperparts, lack the black
malar streak, have thicker bills, and lack the black primaries and second-
aries (a useful field mark in flight).

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status:N/A
Breeding Habitat:Wetland-open water
Nest Location:N/A
Nest Type:N/A
Clutch Size:2-7
Length of Incubation: 28-29 days
Days to Fledge:?
Number of Broods:?
Diet: Mostly aquatic invertebrates and fish; lesser quantities of reptiles or
amphibians and small mammals

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November Acc

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

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