American Bittern Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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Saskatchewan, May 31, 2019Recorded by John Patterson / Macaulay Library
Song
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New York, May 22, 1991Recorded by Steven R. Pantle / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Florida, October 14, 2016Recorded by Paul Marvin / Macaulay Library
Flight calls
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New Jersey, October 05, 2018Recorded by Michael O'Brien / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

To communicate with each other through dense vegetation American Bitterns use low-frequency calls, which carry farther than higher-pitched sounds. During breeding season the males make a bizarre, resonant three-syllable pump-er-lunk call with a liquid quality; females may respond with a similar but quieter sound. The male’s call is preceded by clacking and gulping. To accomplish the pump-er-lunk sound, the male inflates his esophagus by way of almost violent body contortions—opening and closing his bill as if lunging for flying insects—and then uses the stored air to unleash his call. Repeated up to 10 times in succession, the call probably serves as both a territorial signal and an advertisement for mates.