Little Bittern Bird Facts (Ixobrychus minutus)

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

Male Female

Primary Colour

Brown Black Buff

Secondary Colour

White Yellow

Beak Colour

Yellow

Leg Colour

Green Yellow

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Buff

Secondary Colour (Female)

White

Beak Colour (Female)

Yellow

Leg Colour (Female)

Green Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Little Bittern is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Little Bittern is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Little Bittern can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Little Bittern is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Little Bittern is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Little Bittern is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Little Bittern is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Little Bittern is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Little Bittern is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Little Bittern is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Little Bittern is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Little Bittern is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Little Bittern. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Angola Bahrain Bangladesh Benin Botswana Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Central African Republic Chad China Congo Côte D'Ivoire Democratic Republic of the Congo Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guinea Guinea-Bissau India Iran Iraq Italy Jordan Kenya Kuwait Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Oman Pakistan Palestine Qatar Romania Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Spain Sudan Syria Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Afghanistan Albania Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Czech Republic Estonia Hungary Israel Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Poland Portugal Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Switzerland Tajikistan The United Kingdom Turkey Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

Species that pass through the area during migration

Cyprus Yemen

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Barbados Cape Verde Denmark Faroe Islands Gibraltar Iceland Ireland Libya Liechtenstein Mongolia Norway Sao Tome and Principe Spain Sweden

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Little Bittern demonstrates remarkable agility, moving stealthily through dense vegetation and freezing in place with precise control. Their ability to blend perfectly with reeds by stretching their necks and pointing their bills upward showcases exceptional body control.

Strength 40

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not particularly strong for their size, Little Bitterns possess enough strength to catch and handle small fish and amphibians. Their compact body and short neck are suited for quick strikes rather than powerful exertions.

Adaptability 80

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

These birds show high adaptability, inhabiting various wetland habitats across Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. Their ability to migrate long distances and adjust to different climates (temperate, subtropical, and tropical) further demonstrates their adaptiveness.

Aggressiveness 30

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Little Bitterns are generally non-aggressive, preferring to hide or freeze when threatened rather than confront predators. However, they may display some aggression during breeding season, particularly when defending nests or territories.

Endurance 70

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Despite their small size, Little Bitterns exhibit impressive endurance during long-distance migrations between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa or southern Asia. Their ability to survive in various climates and habitats also suggests good overall endurance.

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.

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

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Common Little Bittern

Family:

Ardeidae

Average Lifespan

5 to 10 years

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?

Little Bitterns can blend in perfectly with reeds by stretching their necks and pointing their bills upward.
They are the smallest heron species found in Europe.
Little Bitterns can fly long distances during migration despite their small size.
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.

Little Bittern