Wildlife
Bitterns are shy, secretive and more likely to be heard than seen. With their subtle brown plumage, this plump heron-like bird blends almost perfectly into its reed bed habitat. Even when frightened, the bittern stands perfectly still pointing its neck and bill skywards, to look just like a reed stalk. It is the male's remarkably loud and booming mating call, which can be heard over two kilometres away, that announces their presence. Though found in Europe, North Africa and central Asia, there is only a handful of breeding pairs in Britain that have re-colonised after becoming extinct late in the 19th century.
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Urban bitterns
Iolo Williams studies the remarkable camouflage of bitterns.
Iolo Williams studies the remarkable camouflage of bitterns at Hendre Lake in Cardiff.
Bittern beauty
Bitterns are more Barry White than the Bee Gees, with their deep dramatic booming calls.
Bitterns are more Barry White than the Bee Gees, with their deep dramatic booming calls.
Booming brilliant
Bitterns are rarely seen, so catching a booming bittern in broad daylight is a rare event.
Bitterns are rarely seen, so catching a booming bittern in broad daylight is a rare event.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Bittern can be found in a number of locations including: Asia, China, Europe, Mediterranean, Russia, United Kingdom, Wales. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Bittern distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Year assessed: 2009
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Eurasian Bittern or Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
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Helpless young
Migration
Camouflage
Carnivorous
Adapted to flying
Acoustic communication
Maternal care
Egg layer
Polygynous
Predator