Little Bittern

Ixobrychus minutus

Wetlands. Male has black crown, back and flight feathers (dark brown in female); rest of body, both sexes, buffy-brown, streaked white below.

Bitterns, Egrets, Herons

Not Endemic

Description

Uncommon resident and visitor. Bold black-edged wings of male unmistakable; female recognised by buffy neck and black cap. Immature differs from that of [Dwarf Bittern] mainly in paler, less rufous underparts and olive (not orange-yellow) legs; from immature of [Green-backed (Striated) Heron] in tawny (not dark) folded wings. Solitary or scattered in reed beds or sedges. A diurnal species. Difficult to flush; adopts sky-pointing posture to avoid detection. In flight, the bold black and buff wings are unmistakable. Nomadic.

Quick Facts

Bird Family

Water-associated birds with long bills and necks and long legs. When breeding, many species have long, filamentous plumes on their back or lower breast (or both), while others have more or less permanent long plumes on their napes. In flight, they tuck their heads into their shoulders, thus differing from storks, ibises and cranes. They seldom soar. Many herons are solitary in habit and secretive; others are gregarious and seen more frequently. Most perch in trees and nest in trees or reeds, or even on the ground. All have harsh, squawking voices heard mostly when flushed. Four comparative silhouettes represent (a): Dwarf Bittern; (b): Squacco Heron; (c): Little Egret; and (d): Grey Heron.