Ixobrychus is a genus of bitterns, a group of wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae. It has a single representative species in North America - Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis.
They breed in large reedbeds, and can often be difficult to observe except for occasional flight views due to their secretive behaviour. Like other bitterns, they eat fish, frogs, and similar aquatic life.
