Photo: Imogen Warren / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Australasian Bittern
Botaurus poiciloptilus
Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
- Genus Botaurus
- Species poiciloptilus
Where it lives
Far southwestern WA, southeastern QLD to southeastern SA and Tasmania (southwestern, southeastern Australia), North, South and Stewart is. (New Zealand), Ouvea (Loyalty Is.) and Grande Terre (New Caledonia; rare)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.1 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Australasian Bittern is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Australasian Bittern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) belongs to the Ardeidae family of the order Pelecaniformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU far sw WA, se QLD to se SA and Tasmania (sw, se Australia), North, South and Stewart is. (New Zealand), Ouvea (Loyalty Is.) and Grande Terre (New Caledonia; rare).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 32 cm and a tail of around 10.9 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Australasian Bittern?
The Australasian Bittern is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the Australasian Bittern live?
The Australasian Bittern is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU far sw WA, se QLD to se SA and Tasmania (sw, se Australia), North, South and Stewart is. (New Zealand), Ouvea (Loyalty Is.) and Grande Terre (New Caledonia; rare), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Australasian Bittern belong to?
The Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Australasian Bittern eat?
The Australasian Bittern is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Australasian Bittern migrate?
The Australasian Bittern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Australasian Bittern endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Australasian Bittern make?
1 real field recording of the Australasian Bittern — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Australasian Bittern's range?
The Australasian Bittern has a mapped global range of about 1.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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