Little Bittern - BirdForum Opus

Ixobrychus minutus

Photo by Steve Garvie
Location: S'Albufera de Mallorca

Identification

27-36 cm in length, 40-58 cm wingspan and 60-150 g weight. Buff underparts, black back and crown, wings are black with a large white patch on each wing. The female has a browner back and a buff-brown wing patch.

Distribution

Africa, central and southern Europe, western and southern Asia, and Australasia.

Taxonomy

There are four subspecies

Habitat

Reedbeds

Behaviour

It nests on platforms of reeds in shrubs, and 4-8 eggs are laid.

Diet

Diet includes insects, fish and amphibians.

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Ixobrychus minutus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

Search for photos of Little Bittern in the gallery

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages