American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosus

Often very reclusive birds, these American Bitterns were exceptionally cooperative with me. When they sense they’ve been seen, they become motionless. With bills pointed upward, they blend with nearby reeds, even synchronizing their sway if the wind is blowing. The first two images in this set illustrate this behavior.

Most of these elusive herons breed from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts of North America, north of 39°N in the USA, and as far north as far as southern Northwest Territories (Canada). Most of California, southern USA and south to southern Mexico, Cuba and the West Indies hosts these birds when the breeding season is over.

Today, science considers the American Bittern as monotypic (i.e. they recognize no subspecies).

American Bittern - Botaurus lentiginosus — **American Bittern**
*(Botaurus lentiginosus)*

**Description:**
Mimicking a reed at Merced NWR, south of Merced, in California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-27.
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**Date Taken:** 2011:12:27 15:41

**Location:**

Merced NWR
Merced, California
United States
105.00 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/400

**File Name:** D3X5124-AmericanBittern

© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging

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Pin It — **American Bittern**
*(Botaurus lentiginosus)*

**Description:**
Mimicking a reed at Merced NWR, south of Merced, in California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-27.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2011:12:27 15:41

**Location:**

Merced NWR
Merced, California
United States
105.00 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/400

**File Name:** D3X5124-AmericanBittern

© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging

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