Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Ixobrychus ("reed like plant") sinensis ("of China")

Adult female Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 94g  /  Length: 36-38cm  /  Wingspan: 45-53cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While Europe has only a pair of very easy to differentiate bitterns, South-East Asia has a whole range of birds which co-exist, often in the same habitats.  Out of these, the Yellow Bittern is one of the smaller ones and can be found in a range of wetland habitats ranging from parks right the way up to great marshland.  It is however secretive, and while I did see numerous small bitterns bursting from cover, this was the only one of the whole lot that I was able to photograph.

Related Species:
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Ixobrychus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer Name: កុកសំបកត្រពាំង

A scarce, localised resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Prek Toal

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)

OTHER NAMES: Little Bittern

Latin Etymology: Ixobrychus ("reed like plant") minutus ("little")

                                           Adult Common Little Bittern (subspecies I. m. minutus) at El Pardo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Ixobrychus minutus minutus

Weight: 59-150g  /  Length: 25-36cm  /  Wingspan: 40-58cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Common Little Bittern is easily the smallest member of the Heron Family found in Europe - my first glimpse of this species flying away from me up a river and my first thought was some species of crake until I saw it's face.  They are a secretive species, yet seemingly not so much as the great Bittern, and their smaller size allows them to be present in smaller reed-beds than it's relative could hide in.  At El Pardo I saw my first individual which was fairly showy in that it stayed in the open for an extended amount of time once it had landed - I saw far more at Arrocampo reserve near Monfrague National Park, but these individuals were really only seen in transit from one reed-bed to the next.

Related Species: 
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Ixobrychus
Subspecies: I. m. minutus, I. m. payesii, I. m. podiceps

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Avetorillo común ("Common Bittern")

Locally common resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen in small numbers at El Pardo (one or two birds seen) and Arrocampo (at least 2 individuals)

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Eurasian Bittern (Botaurus stellaris)

OTHER NAMES: Great Bittern, Bittern

Latin Etymology: Botaurus ("bittern") stellaris ("starred")

  Adult Eurasian Bittern (subspecies B. s. stellaris) at Summer Leys, Northants- September 2023

Featured Subspecies: Botaurus stellaris stellaris

Weight: 865-1900g  /  Length: 64-80cm  /  Wingspan: 100-130cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

At the time I first saw this species, the Bittern was a fairly tricky species to see, however, it has been getting commoner due to the success of conservation, and can now be seen at an increasing number of locations, particularly in Winter.  It is a large heron, but unlike the other species found in the UK it is very secretive - its camouflage is designed specifically to blend in with their reed-bed habitats - particularly when they maintain they distinctive bolt upright pose.  However, when the bodies of water they are on freeze around the edge, they are often pushed to leave the reeds a bit more, enabling them to be seen more easily.   They are a scarce bird in the UK, but conservation has seen the number of breeding males increase by a significant percentage over the last 10 years.  In the breeding season, it can often be heard if not seen from it's distinctive booming mating call.

Related Species:
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Botaurus
Subspecies: B. s. stellaris, B. s. capensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare breeding resident (80 males) and widespread but rare Winter visitor (600 birds)

 - A single birds seen at Rutland Water in December 2009, Fen Drayton in May 2017 and Summer Leys in September 2023.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .