Bittern is a marsh-dwelling bird. There are many species (kinds) of bitterns. Bitterns are found throughout the world, except in Antarctica and the northernmost parts of Asia, Europe, and North America, and on certain oceanic islands. Two species, the American bittern and the least bittern, live in North America.
The American bittern inhabits marshlands from Central America to southern and central Canada. This bird measures from 23 to 34 inches (58 to 86 centimeters) long. Its neck and legs are fairly long, but shorter than those of herons. It has a large, sharply pointed bill. The upper parts of its body are brown with streaks and flecks of buff and black. The underparts are pale buff with brown stripes.
An American bittern generally builds a crude nest on a mat of floating vegetation, among reeds and cattails. There, it lays three to five brownish eggs. Except at nesting time, the bird lives mainly alone. It often stands motionless in the marshes, watching for the fish, frogs, mice, and insects on which it feeds. To escape notice, the bird points its bill upward and stands still. Then it can hardly be seen among the reeds because of its colors. The call of the American bittern sounds like “pump-er-lunk, pump-er-lunk.”
Loading the player...American bittern
The least bittern inhabits marshlands from southeastern Canada to northeastern South America. The smallest of all bitterns, it measures only 11 to 14 inches (28 to 35 centimeters) long. A few least bitterns are covered with reddish-brown feathers. Most, however, have buffy underparts and wing patches, with greenish-black feathers on the top of the head and the back. The least bittern’s habits are similar to those of the American bittern.
