Prakruti Parichay
ArdeidaeIxobrychus

Little Bittern

Ixobrychus minutuS

33–38 cmLarge
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
No crest

Resident in Kashmir and Baluchistan; widely recorded elsewhere in India and Pakistan. Buffish wing-coverts contrast with dark flight feathers in all plumages. Male has black crown and mantle/ scapulars. and buff neck. Female has brown mantle/scapulars with pale edgings, and streaked underparts. Juvenile has streaked upperparts including wing coverts, and brown streaking on underparts; very similar to juvenile Yellow Bittern but streaking on foreneck and breast of Yellow is generally more rufous-orange. Bill is shorter than Yellow. Solitary. Most active at dusk; usually spends the day concealed in thick waterside vegetation, but may be seen in the daytime in cloudy weather. Forages by creeping through dense vegetation or by standing and waiting at the edges of cover. If disturbed, often freezes with head and bill pointing vertically skywards. Tall reedbeds bordering lakes. marshes and streams.

Colour

YellowBuff / TanBrownBlack
Average size
35.5 cm
Habitat
Tall reedbeds bordering lakes. marshes and streams.
Behaviour
Resident in Kashmir and Baluchistan, widely recorded elsewhere in India and Pakistan., Solitary. Most active at dusk, usually spends the day concealed in thick waterside vegetation, but may be seen in the daytime in cloudy weather. Forages by creeping through dense vegetation or by standing and waiting at the edges of cover. If disturbed, often freezes with head and bill pointing vertically skywards.

About this bird

Resident in Kashmir and Baluchistan; widely recorded elsewhere in India and Pakistan. Buffish wing-coverts contrast with dark flight feathers in all plumages. Male has black crown and mantle/ scapulars. and buff neck. Female has brown mantle/scapulars with pale edgings, and streaked underparts. Juvenile has streaked upperparts including wing coverts, and brown streaking on underparts; very similar to juvenile Yellow Bittern but streaking on foreneck and breast of Yellow is generally more rufous-orange. Bill is shorter than Yellow. Solitary. Most active at dusk; usually spends the day concealed in thick waterside vegetation, but may be seen in the daytime in cloudy weather. Forages by creeping through dense vegetation or by standing and waiting at the edges of cover. If disturbed, often freezes with head and bill pointing vertically skywards. Tall reedbeds bordering lakes. marshes and streams.

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Little Bittern is bigger than Asian Dowitcher but smaller than Andaman Barn Owl.

This bird

Little Bittern

Ixobrychus minutuS

33–38 cm