>> GENERAL >>>>>
– very small heron, slightly larger than Western Jackdaw but longer wings
– nocturnal migrant
– migrates singly or in small flocks
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Little Bittern Ixobrychus m. minutus, AD M
BIF2884, 11/07/2017, Waghäusel, Germany, Martin Grimm
– very small heron, flight with rather fast wingbeats
– back, tail and wings dull black with ochre-white wing panel (diagnostic)
– feet protruding the tail
Little Bittern Ixobrychus m. minutus, AD M
BIF2884, 23/06/2017, Waghäusel, Germany, Martin Grimm
– F (not yet photographed) would look like a duller, dark brown version of the M, wing panel more buffish
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– overslurred, very nasal sounding, single bursts
– energy centre at around 2kHz
– on average 1,8ms long
– dense and even partials
– gaps between calls sometimes a few seconds long
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus ssp.
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax ssp. (in background)
BIF2901, 08/12/2018, Tsavo West NP, Kenya, Roland Neumann
– detail –
– full overview –
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus ssp.
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax ssp. (in background)
BIF2902, 08/12/2018, Tsavo West NP, Kenya, Roland Neumann
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Black-crowned Night Heron (v) (a)
Striated Heron (v)
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