- Botaurus lentiginosus
Description
Identification
L. 23-34 in (58-86 cm)
A secretive, medium-sized, streaked brown heron.
Outer wing appears blackish brown in flight, contrasting with lighter brown of inner wing and body.
At close range adults show long black stripe down side of throat.
Similar Species
Young Black-crowned Night Heron and Yellow-crowned Night Heron are similar but stockier, with shorter necks and more rounded wings without dark tips. They lack the secretive habits of bitterns.
Distribution
Breeds from southeastern Alaska, Manitoba, and Newfoundland south to California, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Carolinas. Winters from coastal British Columbia, Southwest, Illinois, and along Atlantic Coast to Long Island (occasionally farther north), and south to Costa Rica (rarely) and Greater Antilles.
Habitat
Freshwater and brackish marshes and marshy lakeshores; regular in salt marshes during migration and winter.
Behavior
Nesting
2-6 buff or olive-buff eggs placed on a platform of reeds concealed in a marsh. Does not nest in colonies.
Voice
On breeding grounds, a loud pumping sound, oong-KA-chunk! repeated a few times and often audible for half a mile.
Flight call a low kok-kok-kok
