Photo: Walter Siegmund / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of North America.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 706 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
- Genus Botaurus
- Species lentiginosus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 706 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The American Bittern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The American Bittern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a species of bird in the Ardeidae family, part of the order Pelecaniformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 706 g, with a wing length of about 27.1 cm and a tail of around 8.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 8.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the American Bittern?
The American Bittern is a large bird that weighs around 706 g.
Where does the American Bittern live?
The American Bittern is found across North America with a range covering NA widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the American Bittern belong to?
The American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the American Bittern eat?
The American Bittern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the American Bittern migrate?
The American Bittern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the American Bittern endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the American Bittern make?
1 real field recording of the American Bittern — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the American Bittern's range?
The American Bittern has a mapped global range of about 8.8 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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