Australasian Bittern
Botaurus poiciloptilus
Large, stocky, strongly patterned heron with broad neck and yellow-green legs. Upperparts dark brown, underparts streaked. Usually found in reed beds, where it can be difficult to observe; often forages at night. When disturbed, “freezes,” with head pointing upward (as if trying to blend in with the habitat). Compare young Rufous Night-Heron, which is much smaller, has shorter neck, and tends to roost in trees. Song a very deep, slowly repeated "boom."
Identification
The length is from 650 to 750 mm with adults being similar between the sexes while the male is significantly larger. The bird has a deep brown upper surface, mauled with buff on wing coverts; face and eyebrow buff, with dark brown stripe running from bill to erectile plumes at sides of neck. Under surface buff, striped with brown. The face skin is a dull green as are the legs and feet, it possesses a dark brown bill, yellow eyes, and the base of the lower mandible is green-yellow.
Taxonomy
German zoologist Johann Georg Wagler described the Australasian bittern in 1827. It is one of four similarly plumaged species in the genus Botaurus.
- Scientific name
- Botaurus poiciloptilus
- Authority
- (Wagler, 1827)
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Genus
- Botaurus
Range and habitat
It is found in south-western and south-eastern Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Ouvea. Populations in Australia and New Zealand have declined in the 20th century. It is a cryptic and partly nocturnal species that inhabits densely vegetated wetlands.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
It feeds on aquatic animals such as frogs, eels and freshwater crustaceans. It is a solitary nester on the ground in dense wetland vegetation on trampled reeds and other plants. Monitoring of this species mainly relies upon the ability to count males based on the conspicuous breeding calls of males. Detailed analyses showed that the best time to detect Australasian Bitterns was 1 hour before sunrise, in September (austral spring), on a moonlit night with no cloud or rain.
Conservation
The principal cause of past and present decline is thought to be wetland drainage and degradation. In Australia it is thought to be particularly sensitive to the destruction of drought refugia. It is listed as endangered on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It is listed as threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act of 1988. Under this act, an Action Statement for the recovery and future management of this species has not been prepared. On the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, this species is listed as endangered.<p>BirdLife International has identified the following sites, all of which are in Australia, as being important for Australasian bittern conservation:
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Ochre-breasted Pipit
Anthus nattereri
Fairly distinctive for a pipit: blackish-brown above, including the wings, with bright golden feather edgings giving it a boldly streaked appearance. The chest and flanks are buff and lightly streaked. Look for the buffy-yellow eyebrow. Mostly encountered in well-preserved natural grasslands, favoring short grass areas that have regenerated after fires. Gives a series of sharp twittering notes ending with a slurred “eeeeeeeur.”
Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Frosty northern finch fond of colder climates. Petite yellow bill, plump body, and long notched tail. Note small red cap, as well as black face and throat. Males can show pink wash on breast. Irruptive species that moves south in numbers only some years. Breeds in open forests and tundra with willows. Visits feeders; favors nyjer seed. Can be found in large flocks. Sometimes with goldfinches and siskins. Listen for their chattering calls ringing through the desolate winter landscape. Formerly included Common, Hoary, and Lesser Redpolls, now treated as one species.
Tody Motmot
Hylomanes momotula
Small and infrequently seen bird of shady forest understory in humid tropical lowlands. Rather inactive. Sits quietly, mainly at low to middle levels, and occasionally wags its tail slowly. Usually not seen until flushed, when flies off with a low whirr of wings. Note the overall drab greenish plumage with a rusty cap and bushy whitish whisker marks. Much smaller than other motmots and lacks the racket tail tips of most larger motmot species.
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