Least Bittern

28-36 cm (11-14") Fairly common. Marshes and ponds where cattails predominate.

Our smallest heron - pigeon-sized.

Male's crown and back is black, female's is brown; buffy underparts; large buffy inner wing patch is visible at rest or in flight.

Secretive, uses cryptic color and freezes with bill pointing up to escape detection. Often climbs in reeds. Green-backed Heron and American Bittern are much larger. Rails lack wing patches.

Song: low "coo-coo-coo".

Videos

Images

Credit: Amy McAndrews

Credit: The Natural Capital

Credit: Kenneth Cole Schneider

Distribution Maps

Least Bittern winter distribution map

Least Bittern distribution map