Photo: Norma Malinowski / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Near Threatened

Herons, Pelicans & Ibises

Forest Bittern

Zonerodius heliosylus

Forest Bittern (Zonerodius heliosylus) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Australia & Oceania.

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The Forest Bittern (Zonerodius heliosylus) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 802 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

NT Near Threatened

Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Pelecaniformes
Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
Genus Zonerodius
Species heliosylus

Where it lives

Salawati (Raja Ampat Is., northwest of New Guinea), Aru Is. (southwest of New Guinea) and New Guinea

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 802 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Ardeidae
Order: Pelecaniformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Forest Bittern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Forest Bittern is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Forest Bittern (Zonerodius heliosylus) belongs to the Ardeidae family of the order Pelecaniformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Salawati (Raja Ampat Is., nw of New Guinea), Aru Is. (sw of New Guinea) and New Guinea.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 802 g, with a wing length of about 30.3 cm and a tail of around 12.4 cm.

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 654,000 km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Forest Bittern?

The Forest Bittern is a large bird that weighs around 802 g.

Where does the Forest Bittern live?

The Forest Bittern is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Salawati (Raja Ampat Is., nw of New Guinea), Aru Is. (sw of New Guinea) and New Guinea, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Forest Bittern belong to?

The Forest Bittern (Zonerodius heliosylus) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.

What does the Forest Bittern eat?

The Forest Bittern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Forest Bittern migrate?

The Forest Bittern is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Forest Bittern endangered?

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

How large is the Forest Bittern's range?

The Forest Bittern has a mapped global range of about 654,000 km².