Eurasian bittern
The Eurasian bittern, also known as the great bittern, is a large bird native to marshlands in Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. It is characterized by its striking yellowish-brown plumage, highlighted with dark streaks that provide excellent camouflage among reeds. This species typically measures about 2.5 feet (75 cm) in length and possesses broad wings that span between 4 to 4.5 feet (1 to 1.5 meters). The Eurasian bittern primarily feeds on fish, frogs, insects, and small mammals, employing a stalking technique reminiscent of herons.
During the mating season, which occurs from March to June, males produce a distinctive booming call that can be heard from nearly two miles away, establishing their territory and attracting females. Males may mate with multiple females, each of whom builds her own nest and incubates the eggs, which range from three to six and are camouflaged to blend into their surroundings. Chicks are nurtured by their mothers until they are around seven to eight weeks old, after which they begin their solitary lives. The survival of Eurasian bitterns can be challenged during winter months when food sources become scarce, leading some to migrate south.
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Eurasian bittern
The Eurasian bittern uses its brown, streaked plumage as fantastic camouflage to blend into the reeds of its marshland habitats. In these habitats this bird hunts rodents, fish, frogs, and insects.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Botaurus
Species: Stellaris
The Eurasian bittern, also known as the great bittern, makes its home among the tall, thick reedbeds of marshland regions in Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. The bird's yellowish-brown plumage with its dark brown and black streaks is close in color to the reeds in which it roosts and makes its nest. When danger threatens or the bird is disturbed, it simply becomes motionless with its short neck, small head, and slender, medium-length beak stretched and pointing upward. The effect of this position is that the bittern blends in with the surrounding reeds and is very difficult to see.
When it stretches to its full length, the Eurasian bittern is about 2 1/2 feet (75 centimeters). It likely weighs only one to two pounds (28 to 55 grams). From the tip of one wing to the other, the bittern's broad, rounded wings measure between 4 and 4 1/2 feet (between 1 and 1 1/2 meters). Males are larger than females.
The diet of the bittern consists of fish, frogs, eels, insects, such as mayflies, and small mammals, such as water voles. Like its relatives the herons, the Eurasian bittern stalks much of its prey in the shallow water and stabs it with its sharp bill. Feeding occurs mainly during the day, shortly after dawn. The bittern has long toes, which allow it to walk over the soft ground without sinking into the mud and to climb up and hold onto the reeds. With the arrival of winter, some bitterns may starve as the water freezes and the ice forms a barrier between the birds and their food. Other bitterns migrate south where water remains unfrozen.
With the arrival of spring, the bittern's mating season begins in March and continues until June. The male calls loudly across the marsh. His booming call can be heard nearly two miles (three kilometers) away. The call both attracts females and declares that certain territory belongs to him. A male bittern defends his territory and may even fight an intruder to the point of death. Each male may mate with as many as five females, each of which builds a nest in which to incubate her eggs. Each female lays three to six eggs, which blend are camouflaged by their brown or olive colors. A male with more than one mate does not help incubate the eggs or care for the chicks. If he has only one mate he may help feed the chicks after they hatch. Incubation lasts for nearly one month. The chicks leave the nest right away to hide in the reeds while their mother hunts for food. It is said that the chicks make a bubbling noise which sounds like water being blown through a straw. She feeds and cares for them until they are seven or eight weeks old. At this point, which is shortly before winter, the family group separates. Each bird then lives by itself, as all bitterns do except when they are mating.
The life span of the Eurasian bittern is not known.
Bibliography
“Eurasian Bittern.” Heron Conservation, www.heronconservation.org/herons-of-the-world/list-of-herons/eurasian-bittern/. Accessed 1 May 2024.
Graves, Ethan. “Botaurus Stellaris (Eurasian Bittern).” Animal Diversity Web, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Botaurus‗stellaris/. Accessed 1 May 2024.
Nijland, Peter. “Eurasian Bittern.” Animalia, animalia.bio/eurasian-bittern. Accessed 1 May 2024.