American Bittern

(Botaurus lentiginosus)

Information

American Bittern - Species Profile

American Bittern - Featured photo
Photo by Christa Rittberg

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

N4B, N4N - Apparently Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding
S4B - Apparently Secure Breeding

Minnesota

not listed
Species in Greatest Conservation Need

Description

There is bold brown streaking on the neck and chest, and dark streaks from the bill to the shoulders.

Size

Total length: 23 to 27

Wingspan: 42

Voice

 

Similar Species

 

Habitat

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Ecology

Migration

April to May and August to November

Nesting

 

Diet

 

Distribution

Occurrence

Uncommon migrant, rare breeder

Maps

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Taxonomy

Class

Aves (Birds)

Order

Pelecaniformes (Pelicans, Herons, and Allies)

Family

Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)

Subfamily

Botaurinae (Bitterns)

Genus

Botaurus (Bitterns)

Family

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (family Ardeidae) were formerly classified under the order Ciconiiformes. Based on a phylogenomic study published in 2008, the family was transferred to the order Pelecaniformes.

Subordinate Taxa

 

Synonyms

Ardea lentiginosa

Photos

Visitor Photos

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Amanda Sypnieski

American Bittern

Our dogs were barking at this strange bird in the yard. I ended up catching it with a towel to examine it for injuries since it wasn’t trying to get away. Of course our untethered dog was ready to destroy it so it was trying to stay safe. Once I confirmed that it wasn’t injured or sick I released it on another part of our property away from the dogs. I didn’t know how rare these birds are in this state! I’m glad we had the privilege of having such an encounter!

American Bittern 05
American Bittern 06

Dan W. Andree

American Bittern ...

...the bittern started swaying its neck gently from side to side. Trying to imitate the movement of the cattails lightly moving in the breeze. They are really interesting. ... Fortunate to get this rather secretive bird and close up.

American Bittern 02
American Bittern 03

Christa Rittberg

American Bittern 01
Observed just outside of George H. Crosby Manitou State Park.

Minnesota Seasons Photos

Slideshows

Slideshows

American Bittern
JMC Nature Photos

"American Bittern" "Botaurus lentiginosus"
John Adams

American Bittern - Botaurus lentiginosus
Jean-François Hic

Voices: American Bittern
LabofOrnithology

About

Uploaded on Apr 15, 2010

Experience the song of an American Bittern emanating from a cattail marsh in spring, as narrated by the Cornell Lab's Laura Erickson. Learn more about American Bitterns at All About Birds: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Bittern/id

Audio recordings by Steve Pantle. Photographs by Gerrit Vyn and Marie Read. To explore more audio recordings visit the Macaulay Library: http://macaulaylibrary.org/index.do

Videos

Visitor Videos

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Dan W. Andree

720p from 4k "American Bittern" Early Spring 2021
Nov 11, 2021

About

An up close look at an American Bittern early spring. There is a written intro and the video also contains sounds of the frogs croaking. This was the closest I had ever gotten to an American Bittern and one of very few times I had ever seen one. "Hope you enjoy this"

Other Videos

American Bittern Displaying in Maine
WIld Bird Video Productions

About

Published on Jun 22, 2012

I found this American bittern in a hay field about a mile from home. Luckily he was on the edge of the field "pumper lunking" and offered up some great opportunities. He was often to close! It's best to listen to the video with headphones or with a system that has a sub woofer in order to hear the full range of sound. © 2012 Garth McElroy. www.wildbirdvideos.com

American Bittern Mating Call
Dennis Davenport

About

Published on Jun 8, 2012

Here's an American Bittern performing his mating call. I really need to pick up a decent microphone to deal with the wind. Taken at Ridgefield NWR on Apr. 23, 2012 with my Canon 7D.

The American Bittern
nwwmark

About

Uploaded on Jan 22, 2012

Of all the birds I have admired over the years, I must admit that the American Bittern is by far the most interesting. I had only seen them a few times in the wild and as luck would have it I could never catch them on film until now. I am simply fascinated by this bird, everything from its unusual plunger like call to the way it mimics the windy marsh grass has made it one of my favorites for years. I have paddled right between them while I could hear them singing from only a few feet away and yet still without being able to capture a glance of these amazingly stealthy marsh birds. The American Bittern needs our help because the wetlands it calls home are becoming more rare every year. Its up to each one of us to do our own part in our own community to help preserve the natural world. There really is a future in a clean and healthy Earth so I hope you can join me in helping protect our Mother Earth and all its wonders. I hope you enjoy and share this film with as many as you can to keep spreading the conservation message. Until next time, you can join me at my website http://www.naturewalkswithmark.org and thanks to the support of my friends we now have a new group helping to raise wildlife awareness called the Nature Walks Conservations Society http://www.naturewalksCS.org

American Bittern 2013 Video file
TheThirdHandVideo

About

Published on Jun 5, 2013

Footage of an american Bittern doing its onk-a-chonk call. Filmed May 18, 2013, Straight River Marsh Scrape, Steele County, Owatonna, Minnesota. Filming by Leanne T. Alt, TheTthird Hand, Inc. Video Productions, Owatonna, Minnesota. Copyright 201, The Third Hand, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Sightings

Visitor Sightings

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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
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Amanda Sypnieski
9/26/2025

American Bittern

Location: Finland, MN area, Superior National Forest

Our dogs were barking at this strange bird in the yard. I ended up catching it with a towel to examine it for injuries since it wasn’t trying to get away. Of course our untethered dog was ready to destroy it so it was trying to stay safe. Once I confirmed that it wasn’t injured or sick I released it on another part of our property away from the dogs. I didn’t know how rare these birds are in this state! I’m glad we had the privilege of having such an encounter!

Ann
5/10/2022

American Bittern

Location: Welch, MN

deep in backwoods, very rare people traffic. Not far from a river. Think came out from fallen log and brush pile. Wish I had my better camera had I known I'd see such a thing!

Dan W. Andree
4/28/2021

American Bittern

Location: rural Norman Co. Mn.

...the bittern started swaying its neck gently from side to side. Trying to imitate the movement of the cattails lightly moving in the breeze. They are really interesting. ... Fortunate to get this rather secretive bird and close up.

Kristy Fletcher 
5/21/2019

Location: Frazee (Becker County) MN

I did not see the bird itself. I heard its call in the swamp in front of our house on two separate occasions within a week. Will continue to watch and listen for it.

Christa Rittberg
6/14/2015

American Bittern

Location: Lake County, MN

Observed just outside of George H. Crosby Manitou State Park.

Minnesota Seasons Sightings