American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)

Listen to American Bittern male

Watch American Bittern male courtship display 

Description

Sexes similar. Adult heavily streaked below with rufous-brown on yellow-buff; dark brown above, finely marbled on back and wings; broad black stripe on side of yellow-brown neck; sides of chin white; bill yellowish; legs rather short and green. Juvenile similar, may lack black neck stripe.

Nebraska Habitat

Normally found in marshes with heavy emergent vegetation or with adjacent wet swales or tall grassy meadows.

Behavior

Walks with bill angled upward. When alarmed, freezes with bill pointing up, or flushes with rapid wingbeats.

Where to see it in Nebraska

Uncommon regular breeder in the northern and western portions of the state. Resident and breeder in Sandhills. Good possibility of observing American Bitterns in summer at Crescent Lake NWR or Valentine National NWR in late May or June.

Status

NatureServe G4 (apparently secure globally), S3 (state vulnerable) , NBP Priority BCRs 11 & 22, NNLP Tier II

Fun Facts

• The American Bittern has a remarkable, though rarely seen, courtship display. The male arches his back, shortens his neck, dips his breast forward, and "booms" at the female.
• If an observer is nearby, they will often stretch their neck up, bill pointed towards the sky, and sway from side to side as if imitating waving reeds.
• Their eerie calls have earned them many nicknames: stake-driver, thunder-pumper, and mire-drum.
• A group of bitterns has many collective nouns, including a "dash", "freeze", "pint", "pretense" and "siege" of bitterns.

Additional Photos