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Least Bittern

Least Bittern

Botaurus exilis

Audubon Illustration

Audubon illustration of Least Bittern

John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.

Migration Flyway

Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species

Last Spotted Near You

View on eBirdWikipedia

About the Least Bittern

The least bittern (Botaurus exilis) is a small heron, the smallest member of the family Ardeidae found in the Americas. This species was formerly placed in the genus Ixobrychus.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name
Botaurus exilis
Family
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
Order
Pelecaniformes

Similar species

Other members of the herons, egrets, and bitterns family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

  • Agami Heron Agamia agami
  • American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
  • Bare-throated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma mexicanum
  • Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
  • Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius
  • Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes
  • Chinese Pond-Heron Ardeola bacchus
  • Eastern Cattle-Egret Ardea coromanda
  • Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris
  • Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
  • Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
  • Great Egret Ardea alba

Know when the Least Bittern turns up near you

Add it to your watchlist and draw an alert zone around the places you actually bird. Birdr checks eBird reports and tells you when one is seen inside it.

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Gear for spotting Least Bittern

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