Black Bittern
Yellow-necked Bittern
Striated Herons are also found in mangroves but are smaller (up to 49 cm) and are lighter grey with a black cap.
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© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Ixobrychus
- Species
- flavicollis
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Ciconiiformes
- Class
- Aves
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 54 cm to 66 cm
Black Bitterns are seen in daylight more often than other bitterns.
Identification
The Black Bittern is a sooty black or dark brown bittern with a yellow patch on the sides of the neck, extending from the throat to the wing. The feathers on the crown and lower neck are almost plumes. The legs are dark.
Habitat
Black Bitterns roost and nest in trees, and are found in tree-lined wetlands and in mangroves. They forage in both daylight and darkness, mainly from shady trees over water, but may be seen during the day in open areas of short marshy vegetation and along creeks in shrubby vegetation.
Distribution
Black Bitterns are found in coastal south-western, northern and eastern Australia south to far eastern Victoria.
Seasonality
Black Bitterns are sedentary throughout the year.
Feeding and diet
Black Bitterns feed on a wide range of small animals, but mainly fish and amphibians. They stalk prey slowly or stand and wait for prey to emerge, but may sometimes plunge at it from a perch, before stabbing it with their sharp bills.
Communication
Loud repeated cooing.
Breeding behaviours
Black Bitterns nest in trees over water. The nest is a loose platform with a shallow depression in the centre.
- Breeding season: September to April
- Clutch size: Up to five, usually three
Conservation status
Loss of wetlands by draining reduces the range of habitats available to the Black Bittern.
References
- Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. 1997. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
- Simpson, K and Day, N. 1999. Field guide to the birds of Australia, 6th Edition.Penguin Books, Australia.
- Higgins, P.J. and S.J.J.F. Davies (eds) 1996. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 3 (Snipe to Pigeons). Oxford University Press, Victoria.
- Slater, P, Slater, P, and Slater, R 1989. The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds.Lansdowne. Revised edition.
