American Bittern

American Bittern 

(Botauruslentiginosus)

Photographed at 

Etobicoke Creek, Toronto, Canada   Apr 2009

The American Bittern is a solitary, camouflaged coloured heron that breeds in freshwater wetlands from northern Canada to the mid-United States. It prefers tall sprouting vegetation, and frequents the vegetation outer edges and shorelines. It relies on stealth more than pursuit to hunt, waiting motionless for long periods to capture passing prey, mainly insects, amphibians, crayfish, and small fish and mammals. It is most active during fading light of dusk hours much like the Night Heron.

If it senses that it has been seen, the Bittern becomes motionless, with its bill pointed upward, causing it to blend into the reeds as seen in the photo.

This female builds the nest and the male guards it. Two or three eggs get incubated by the female for 29 days, and the chicks leave after 6-7 weeks.

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