Connecticut Audubon Bird Finder for July 4: American Bittern

American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus

This week’s Bird Finder was written by Frank Gallo, director of Connecticut Audubon Society’s Milford Point Coastal Center

Where to find it: American Bitterns breed in a variety of freshwater marshes with tall vegetation, but are fairly localized and secretive inland-nesting birds in Connecticut. In summer, it’s possible to find them in any well vegetated marsh in Connecticut; a likely spot is the boardwalk at Wimisink Marsh, Route 39N & Route 55 in Sherman. Remember, American Bitterns are difficult to observe; they are a state-threatened breeding species and tapes should not be used to attract them.

They generally winter in coastal brackish and freshwater marshes where there is open water and food; they eat small fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and invertebrates.

From fall through spring, look for them in the marshes near Meig’s Point and the Swan Pond at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. They can also be seen consistently in the Wheeler Marsh at our Milford Point Coastal Center in Milford, where they are most often spotted flying across the marsh, especially at dawn or dusk.

How to find it: American Bitterns are incredibly well camouflaged and difficult to see among the reeds in which they live. When disturbed, they lift their heads, stretching their necks and pointing their bills to the sky; the elongated streaking on the breast and neck blends perfectly with the browns of the reed stems. With luck and careful observation, one may reveal itself at the edge of the reeds or walk out into the open.

Bitterns are most often heard, or seen in flight. Their deep pumping “Unk-a-kunk” song is quite distinctive. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s worth listening to, on Cornell’s All About Birds website.

What it looks like: American Bitterns are a stocky brown-striped two-foot tall heron with yellow eyes, a yellow bill, and a distinct black “mustache” stripe running down each side of the throat. They are similar in size and shape to a young Night-Heron. Bitterns, however, are brown-toned rather than gray, with very pronounced vertical streaking on their chests and lack the spotted wing coverts of a Night-Heron. As with Yellow-crowned Night Herons, American Bitterns have two-toned wings with the pale upper-wing coverts contrasting with dark flight feathers that are quite visible in flight. Unlike Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, only their feet project beyond their tail, not both the legs and feet.

What if it isn’t there? Finding American Bitterns often requires luck and/or persistence. Several trips will likely be needed before one is observed. It is best to try early or late in the day when they become more active. Other species to look for in summer include Red-winged Blackbird, Sora and Virginia Rail, Swamp Sparrow, and Marsh Wren.

Conservation status: American Bittern is listed as threatened in Connecticut.

Connecticut Audubon Bird Finder is edited by Tom Andersen.
Photo by Andrea Westmoreland, Carolinabirds.org.