Least Bittern
Ixobrychus exilis
The Least Bittern is the smallest heron in the world. Other contenders for “wee-ness” are the Black-Backed Bittern of Australia and New Guinea, Africa’s Dwarf Bittern, and northern South America’s Stripe-Backed Bittern.
During the breeding season, there are only a few locations in USA’s western coastal states where these herons move north to breed, but they are wide ranging in the east during the summer months. In winter, the North American birds migrate as far south as Central America. Few places in the USA host Least Bitterns year-round. Southern California, the Texas Gulf, and Florida are such places.
Able to squeeze its body through passages as small as an inch and a half, these birds can move unnoticed through dense reeds. The Least Bittern’s “pumping” calls often will betray its presence long before we will see it.
There remains much unknown about Least Bitterns in South America. Today, there are five widely recognised subspecies:
- I. e. exilis lives in North America, Central America and the Caribbean
- I. e. pullus lives in northwestern Mexico
- I. e. erythromelas lives in eastern Panama and the east coast of South America and south to Paraguay
- I. e. bogotensis lives in Colombia
- I. e. peruvianus lives in Peru
I first met the Least Bittern at the Salton Sea in December 2010. During my visit to Texas in 2021, a nesting pair put on a show for those of us visiting South Padre Island at the Laguna Madre Nature Trail.
24 Photos
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
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Description: (Ixobrychus exilis) Sailing away in Sorrento Valley, San Diego County, California USA 2010-07-23. |
Date Taken: 2010:07:23 11:48 |
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Location:
Sorrento |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/400 |
File Name: JCD2669.LeastBittern |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
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Description: (Ixobrychus exilis) Making a successful strike in the marshlands near the beach at Poe Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2010-12-10. |
Date Taken: 2010:12:10 17:00 |
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Location:
Poe Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD6190-6191_LeastBittern |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
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Description: (Ixobrychus exilis) Foraging in the marshlands near the beach at Poe Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2010-12-11. |
Date Taken: 2010:12:10 17:00 |
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Location:
Poe Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/200 |
File Name: JCD6193_LeastBittern |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: Foraging in the marshlands near the beach at Poe Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2010-12-10. |
Date Taken: 2010:12:10 17:02 |
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Location:
Poe Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD6216_LeastBittern |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
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Description: The fishing was good here. I watched this bird try six times to spear fish. Five of the attempts were successful. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 17:03 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X7806-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: The fishing was good here. I watched this bird try six times to spear fish. Five of the attempts were successful. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 16:43 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X7678-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
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Description: Hermit thrushes tend to stay near cover, but this bird found the food was better on the lawn. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 15:50 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X7357-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: The fishing was good here. I watched this bird try six times to spear fish. Five of the attempts were successful. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 16:35 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X7548-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: The fishing was good here. I watched this bird try six times to spear fish. Five of the attempts were successful. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 16:35 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X7524-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: I took a break from the swarm of warblers and warbler lovers to visit the marsh where I caught this Least Bittern returning to its nest. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 13:42 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X7169-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: I took a break from the swarm of warblers and warbler lovers to visit the marsh where I caught this Least Bittern returning to its nest. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 13:42 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X7186-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: The fishing was good here. I watched this bird try six times to spear fish. Five of the attempts were successful. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 16:36 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X7620-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: With a nest nearby, these smallest of all herons kept busy hunting food. Bird activity on Tuesday’s visit to South Padre Island was slightly less hectic than it was on the weekend, but it gave me some great bird encounters, including two birds brand new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:20 11:38 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X9429SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: With a nest nearby, these smallest of all herons kept busy hunting food. Bird activity on Tuesday’s visit to South Padre Island was slightly less hectic than it was on the weekend, but it gave me some great bird encounters, including two birds brand new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:20 12:04 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X9561SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: With a nest nearby, these smallest of all herons kept busy hunting food. Bird activity on Tuesday’s visit to South Padre Island was slightly less hectic than it was on the weekend, but it gave me some great bird encounters, including two birds brand new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:20 12:37 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X9740SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: The Least Bitterns on the marsh continued to put on shows for bird watchers to enjoy. Sunday was the 2nd day of the great warbler fallout, but unlike Saturday’s expedition, the sun shone through to light her subjects. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:18 16:24 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X8866-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: I took a break from the swarm of warblers and warbler lovers to visit the marsh where I caught this Least Bittern returning to its nest. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 13:42 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X7199-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: With a nest nearby, these smallest of all herons kept busy hunting food. Bird activity on Tuesday’s visit to South Padre Island was slightly less hectic than it was on the weekend, but it gave me some great bird encounters, including two birds brand new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:20 11:59 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X9526SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: With a nest nearby, these smallest of all herons kept busy hunting food. Bird activity on Tuesday’s visit to South Padre Island was slightly less hectic than it was on the weekend, but it gave me some great bird encounters, including two birds brand new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:20 11:35 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X9400SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: The Least Bitterns on the marsh continued to put on shows for bird watchers to enjoy. Sunday was the 2nd day of the great warbler fallout, but unlike Saturday’s expedition, the sun shone through to light her subjects. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:18 16:27 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X8874-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: The Least Bitterns on the marsh continued to put on shows for bird watchers to enjoy. Sunday was the 2nd day of the great warbler fallout, but unlike Saturday’s expedition, the sun shone through to light her subjects. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:18 16:21 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X8811-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: With a nest nearby, these smallest of all herons kept busy hunting food. Bird activity on Tuesday’s visit to South Padre Island was slightly less hectic than it was on the weekend, but it gave me some great bird encounters, including two birds brand new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:20 11:39 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X9446SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: Hermit thrushes tend to stay near cover, but this bird found the food was better on the lawn. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 15:50 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X7353-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
|
Description: Least Bitterns are usually secretive and stealthy, but these nesting on the marsh seemed to be show-offs. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 11:11 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X0813SPI_ConventionCentre |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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