American Bittern Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Least Bittern
Adult female
Least Bitterns are less than half the size of American Bitterns. They are lighter brown overall and less streaky than American Bitterns. They also tend to cling to the stalks of marsh vegetation whereas American Bitterns usually stand in the water.
© David Irving | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, May 01, 2011Similar Species
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Adult (American)
Black-crowned Night-Herons may look similar in flight, but adults don't have streaking on their belly like American Bitterns do. They also have shorter and blunter bills than American Bitterns.
© Charlene Fortner | Macaulay LibraryKansas, July 13, 2015Similar Species
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Juvenile
Juveniles look most similar to American Bitterns, but Black-crowned Night-Herons have shorter, thicker, and blunter bills. Their necks are also shorter than the American Bittern's.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 19, 2016Similar Species
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Adult
In flight Yellow-crowned Night-Herons could be mistaken for an American Bittern, but note its tucked in neck in flight, and shorter, blunter bill.
© Oscar Johnson | Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, June 11, 2017Similar Species
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Juvenile
Yellow-crowned Night-Herons have shorter, thicker, and blunter bills than American Bitterns. Their necks are also shorter than the American Bittern's.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, July 25, 2017Similar Species
Green Heron
Juvenile
Green Herons are smaller than American Bitterns. Juveniles look most similar, but they are darker overall and have a dark cap and a deep reddish neck that American Bitterns don't have.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, August 11, 2017Main Species
American Bittern
Adult/immature
Medium-sized heron with a long, thick neck and long, pointed bill. Well camouflaged: buffy and brown, with vertical brown stripes on its neck.
© Jason Dain | Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, December 26, 2018Adult
Medium-sized heron with a long, thick neck and long, pointed bill. Note long, black patch that extends from below the eye down the side of the neck.
© Luke Seitz | Macaulay LibraryMaine, June 13, 2015Adult
Produces a distinctive "pump-er-lunk" call by repeatedly inflating their throat. These low-pitched calls allow American Bitterns to communicate effectively even when blocked by dense vegetation.
© Eric Liner | Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2006Not all videos have sound
Adult
In flight note dark flight feathers, pale coverts, and hunchbacked look.
© Nathan Dubrow | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 01, 2017Adult
Tucks head into a hunch and slowly lifts its feet with toes spread as it walks slowly through open areas in wetlands.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 28, 2013Adults
Almost exclusively occupies freshwater wetlands with tall vegetation year-round. Rarely occupies coastal tidal marshes or coastal areas with low vegetation.
© Eric Liner | Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2006Not all videos have sound
Adult
Note white throat and long, black patch of feathers that extends from below the eye down the side of the neck.
© Luke Seitz | Macaulay LibraryMaine, June 13, 2015Adult/immature
Flying style is similar to most other herons, with the neck retracted and legs trailing out behind, but American Bitterns have hurried and somewhat ungraceful wingbeats.
© Eric Liner | Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2006Not all videos have sound
Adult/immature
When approached by potential predators, American Bitterns attempt to camouflage themselves by pointing their bill upwards, compressing their body feathers, and remaining as still as the surrounding vegetation.
© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 25, 2015Not all videos have sound
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Species in This Family
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns(Order: Pelecaniformes, Family: Ardeidae)
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