Eurasian Bittern
Botaurus stellaris
The Eurasian Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is a common herons, egrets, and bittern found in 91 countries, weighing about 1.3 kg. The Eurasian bittern or great bittern is a wading bird in the bittern subfamily (Botaurinae) of the heron family Ardeidae.
About the Eurasian Bittern
The Eurasian bittern or great bittern is a wading bird in the bittern subfamily (Botaurinae) of the heron family Ardeidae. There are two subspecies, the northern race breeding in parts of Europe and across the Palearctic, as well as on the northern coast of Africa, while the southern race is endemic to parts of southern Africa. It is a secretive bird, seldom seen in the open as it prefers to skulk in reed beds and thick vegetation near water bodies. Its presence is apparent in the spring, when the booming call of the male during the breeding season can be heard. It feeds on fish, small mammals, fledgling birds, amphibians, crustaceans and insects.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Bitterns are thickset herons with bright, pale, buffy-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars. As its alternative name suggests, this species is the largest of the bitterns, with males being rather larger than females. The Eurasian or great bittern is 69–81 cm (27–32 in) in length, with a 100–130 cm (40–50 in) wingspan and a body mass of 0.87–1.94 kg (1 lb 14+1⁄2 oz – 4 lb 4+1⁄2 oz). The crown and nape are black, with the individual feathers rather long and loosely arranged, tipped with buff narrowly barred with black. Voice: The mating call or contact call of the male is a deep, sighing fog-horn or bull-like boom with a quick rise and an only slightly longer fall, easily audible from a distance of five kilometres (three miles) on a calm night. The call is mainly given between January and April during the mating season.
What the Eurasian Bittern sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Algeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Libya, Seychelles, Tanzania, Palestinian Territories, Guernsey.
When to see it
Best months: January, March, April, May, June, with peak activity in May. It is a passage migrant species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Eurasian Bittern?
- Bitterns are thickset herons with bright, pale, buffy-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Eurasian Bittern?
- The Eurasian Bittern is a large sized bird weighing about 1.3 kg.
- Where can you see a Eurasian Bittern?
- The Eurasian Bittern occurs in 91 countries, including Sweden, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and Finland.
- What does a Eurasian Bittern sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Eurasian Bittern on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Eurasian Bittern?
- The Eurasian Bittern is most easily confused with the American Bittern, the Pinnated Bittern and the Australasian Bittern.
- Is the Eurasian Bittern endangered?
- The Eurasian Bittern is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Eurasian Bittern for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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