Least Bittern
The Least Bittern is one of the smallest herons in the world, and the smallest in North America. John James Audubon reported that a pet Least Bittern that he kept could compress its body thin enough to pass between two bookends placed only one inch apart.

The Least Bitterns share a number of traits with the larger American Bittern: cryptic coloration, stealthy habits that generally keep them hidden, and a preference for marshes with dense emergent vegetation. Least Bitterns typically select smaller prey and forage in deeper water and more dense vegetation than American Bitterns. Small fish and large insects such as dragonflies are important in the diet. The two bittern species avoid direct competition by breeding at different times, the more southerly-wintering Least Bittern arriving on the breeding grounds about a month later than the American Bittern, in time to take advantage of the emergence of aquatic insects.

Although bitterns are usually the most solitary of herons, clusters of Least Bittern nests may be found in appropriate habitat with especially good food supplies. Nests are placed from a few inches to a few feet above the water in dense cattails, reeds, or sawgrass. The water surrounding such nests is usually from 1 to 3 feet deep. Plant stalks are bent over to construct a flat platform, and dead and live plant material is then interwoven into a shallow cup about 6 to 10 inches in diameter. Both parents incubate the four or five pale bluish green eggs. Hatchlings are tended by their parents for about 3 1/2 weeks and after a few days are able to freeze in the typical bittern alarm pose with bill and neck held straight up. When flushed, Least Bitterns fly short distances with neck extended and feet dangling in seemingly weak flight. However, Least Bitterns do fly great distances in migration, primarily at night.

The advertising call of the Least Bittern is a dove-like cooing, "uh, uh, uh, oo, oo, oo, ooah," sounding somewhat similar to the call of a cuckoo, or some Pied-billed Grebe vocalizations. Females may respond with rail-like ticking sounds. When agitated, the lores flush red, the crown may be raised, and an alarm call may be given: a loud "quoh," or a hissing "hah."

In early fall Least Bitterns migrate south to wintering grounds from southern Florida, Texas and California, south to Columbia. Although breeding occurs chiefly in freshwater marshes, brackish and salt marshes may be used in winter.
Least Bittern Range Map

Description: Least Bitterns are extremely small herons, with about the same wingspread and length as a Common Grackle, but weighing less. They are slightly larger than Virginia Rails. They have short legs, but their feet have long curved toenails suitable for grasping stems as they make their way through the marsh vegetation. Males have blackish crowns, backs and tails; females show purplish-brown in these areas. The underparts are white with brown stripes. The sides of the face and neck are buffy yellow and there is a bright buffy patch on the upper parts of the wings. The dark scapulars are outlined in conspicuous white stripes.


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