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Welcome to the Opus, an interactive, multimedia encyclopaedia that anyone can edit. You can use the Opus to find out about everything to do with birds - from the birds themselves to the places you can find them.
Identification
Length 64-80 cm (25-31½ in), wingspan 125-135 cm, weight 865-1940g. A large bird of reed beds. Tawny, mottled brown body with dark streaks, black crown. Dagger-like bill.
Similar Species
American Bittern is smaller; has no black crown, but instead a black patch on the side of the neck. In flight, superficially resembles a huge owl, showing shorter legs in flight than for example Grey Heron.
Distribution
Subspecies
2 subspecies recognized by Clements.
Habitat
Densely vegetated swamps with small areas of open water but prefers extensive reedbeds. Sometimes in smaller reed-patches or other vegetation but rarely seen in the open. On passage and in winter may become more obvious and occurs in a wider range of wet habitats, sometimes around disused gravel-pits and reservoirs.
Breeding
Breeding season starts already in late winter (February) and goes to April. Two birds stay permanently together. The nest is a bulky platform made of twigs and well insulated. It's placed 1.7 to 15m above the ground, close to the trunk of a spruce or fir tree. Lays 3 - 4 eggs.
Behaviour
The bird is secretive and very difficult to spot if it does not break cover. It is superbly camouflaged for its reed bed habitat and uses this to stalk its prey. When threatened, often stretches up in a slender pose to maximise camouflage among erect reed stems.
Diet
They feed in a similar manner to the Grey Heron, stabbing and snapping with its sharp beak and can remain hunched and utterly motionless for hours at a time.
Action
When moving it is generally in a slow, creeping stalk that is difficult to pick out though it does sometimes dart rapidly forwards. Bitterns do fly from reed bed to reed bed and this is a good time to spot them. Their flight is low and rapid with relatively slow, powerful, purposeful wingbeats.
Vocalisation
Male Bitterns make a booming call to announce territory and display to potential mates. Both sexes make a guttural croak in flight infrequently.
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