Least Bittern
Botaurus exilis (Gmelin, 1789)
Least Bittern: https://marylandbiodiversity.com/species/982
Synonyms
Ixobrychus exilis  LEBI 
Tags
In need of conservation S2S3B (State rare breeder)

Map Snapshot

165 Records

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Least Bittern in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (5/13/2023). (c) dansmall, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). - Dan Small.

Least Bittern (flyover call) in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/6/2024). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). - Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist.

Status

The small and secretive Least Bittern is one of Maryland's more mysterious breeding birds. They'll begin returning in April and some will nest in various high-quality wetland habitats.

Least Bitterns are rarely glimpsed, more often detected by their subtle but distinctive coo-coo-coo-coo calls. Smaller than a Green Heron at 11-14 inches, the species is at home in dense marsh vegetation such as cattails, where it can hunt for small fishes and other aquatic prey from precarious perches just above the water. Listen for calling adults in summer and watch for quick flybys like this one in marshes, especially freshwater marshes.

Seasonality Snapshot

Resources

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Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

Source: Wikipedia

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