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Bittern · Field Guide · Things With Wings

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Bittern

Botaurus stellaris

Not yet photographed by the community

Booming voice; perfectly camouflaged in reedbeds; amber eyes.

Species Profile

Red List (Amber List under newer criteria); Schedule 1 protected species

Lifespan: 8–12 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 70–80 cm, wingspan 100–130 cm; 900–1,900 g
Habitat: Reedbeds and wetlands with dense vegetation, typically in lowland freshwater marshes, fens, and river valleys.
UK Distribution: Rare winter visitor and scarce breeding resident in southern England, primarily East Anglia and the south-east. Populations fluctuate; breeding largely occurs at major reedbed reserves.
Diet: Fish (pike, eels, carp, perch), amphibians, reptiles, insects, small mammals, and occasionally waterfowl.
Prey: Fish, eels, frogs, newts, small mammals, insects
Predators: White-tailed eagles, marsh harriers, foxes, and egg predators including corvids and mink
Mating Season: March to July
Breeding: Clutch of 3–5 eggs, incubation period 25–26 days, typically single brood. Fledging at 7–8 weeks.
Behaviour: Solitary and highly cryptic, remaining concealed within reedbeds. Males produce a distinctive booming call, audible up to 5 km away, during the breeding season. Primarily nocturnal feeder.

Sources and editorial status

The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.

Profile generated 24 June 2026

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