Photo: Norma Malinowski / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Forest Bittern
Zonerodius heliosylus
Forest Bittern (Zonerodius heliosylus) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
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 (opens in a new tab)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
Quick facts
- Weight
- 802 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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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.
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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