Least ConcernEurasian Bittern
Botaurus stellaris
Birds · Pelecaniformes · Ardeidae
Ixobrychus minutus
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
The smallest heron in Europe, tiny and extraordinarily unobtrusive. It moves easily through the marsh vegetation, climbing the stems, and is very hard to see despite occupying well-visited wetlands.
Weight
140 g – 160 g
Size
33 cm – 38 cm
Life expectancy
5 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Nocturnal
Active mainly at night.
Social structure
In pairs
Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.
Estimated population
A Spanish population of close to 2,000 pairs
Sources consulted: SEO/BirdLife (ficha y III Atlas de las aves en época de reproducción en España) · IUCN Red List · Asturnatura · estudio sobre biología reproductora en el delta del Ebro · Parque Regional del Sureste (Comunidad de Madrid) · MITECO
Best time: From spring to summer, at dawn and dusk; it is a summer visitor in Spain
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 10 of 33.
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Little Bittern — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Based on what we already know about little bittern.
The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.
