Little Bittern

Least Concern

Ixobrychus minutus

A shy master of camouflage, this small heron, barely larger than a pigeon, lurks in dense reedbeds worldwide, often going unnoticed until it takes flight.

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Little Bittern is a small heron with a compact body and short neck. Males have a black crown and back, contrasting with buff-coloured wing coverts and a distinctive pale panel on the upperwing. The underparts are pale with buff streaks on the breast and flanks.

Females are less striking, with brown upperparts and streaked underparts. Juveniles resemble females but have more extensive streaking.

Both sexes have yellow bills and greenish-yellow legs. Their eyes are yellow, and their bill can be either yellow or yellowish-green.

Size

Length

33cm to 38cm

Wingspan

49cm to 58cm

Weight

59g to 150g

Colours

Primary Colour

Brown Black Buff

Secondary Colour

White Yellow

Beak Colour

Yellow

Leg Colour

Green Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

Garden

Wetland

Coastal

Urban

Farmland

Grassland

Desert

Tundra

Rainforest

Mountain

Savanna

Distribution

Little Bitterns inhabit freshwater wetlands with dense vegetation, including reedbeds, marshes, and the edges of lakes and slow-flowing rivers. They are found across Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia, with breeding populations in southern and central Europe.

During winter, they migrate to sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. In the UK, they are rare visitors, occasionally breeding in southern England.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,800 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

© 2025 - Birdfact
Resident
Breeding
Passage
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

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Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85
Strength 40
Adaptability 80
Aggressiveness 30
Endurance 70

Diet

Little Bitterns are opportunistic feeders, primarily consuming small fish, amphibians, and aquatic insects. Crustaceans, molluscs, worms, frogs, tadpoles and small reptiles are also eaten.

They hunt by standing motionless at the water's edge or on floating vegetation, striking quickly with their sharp bills to catch prey passing by. Little Bitterns are crepuscular, with their most active feeding periods at dusk and dawn.

Behaviour

Little Bitterns are secretive and often difficult to spot. They move stealthily through dense vegetation, freezing in place with their bill pointed upward when threatened, mimicking reeds.

During the breeding season, males perform elaborate courtship displays, including neck-stretching and feather-raising, to attract mates.

Vocalisation

The Little Bittern's call is a distinctive, deep 'woof-woof' or 'roo-roo', often repeated in series. During the breeding season, males produce a louder, more resonant 'woomp' call. They may emit a sharp, cat-like 'kek-kek-kek' sound when alarmed.

Outside of the breeding season, they're relatively non-vocal birds.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding occurs from May to July in Europe. Males attract females with elaborate displays and vocalisations. Pairs are monogamous during the breeding season.

Nests are built in dense vegetation, usually low over water. They are platforms made of reeds and other aquatic plants. Females lay 4-6 pale blue or greenish-white eggs.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 17-19 days. Chicks fledge after 25-30 days but remain dependent on parents for several more weeks.

Lifespan

Typical Lifespan Range 5 - 10 years
0
3
6
9
12

years

The Little Bittern typically lives for 5 to 10 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [1]

While listed as Least Concern globally, Little Bittern populations are declining in parts of Europe due to wetland habitat loss and degradation.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring suitable wetland habitats, particularly in their breeding range.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

600,000 - 1,200,000 mature individuals [2]

Global Population Trend

Decreasing[3]

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for Little Bitterns in dense reedbeds and marshy areas
  • Listen for their distinctive 'woof-woof' call, especially at dawn and dusk
  • Watch for movement in reeds, as they often freeze when spotted
  • Use a spotting scope to observe their behaviour from a distance

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Common Little Bittern

Family:

Ardeidae

Predators

Main predators include larger birds of prey, such as marsh harriers and herons, as well as mammals like foxes and raccoons.

Did You Know?

  1. Little Bitterns can blend in perfectly with reeds by stretching their necks and pointing their bills upward.
  2. They are the smallest heron species found in Europe.
  3. Little Bitterns can fly long distances during migration despite their small size.
  4. The first record of breeding Little Bitterns was observed in South Yorkshire in 1984. Prior to this, almost 150 anecdotal reports exist, with sightings in Kent, Essex, Cambridgeshire and East Anglia. In recent years, breeding has been regularly reported in Somerset between 2009 and 2017, and although no reports were made in 2018, a male was heard at the same site in 2019.

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References

  1. 1 2

    website: BirdLife International. 2019. Ixobrychus minutus (amended version of 2018 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22735766A155511258.

    View source
  2. 3

    website, 2015: Wetlands International