Least Bittern Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song (Northern)
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New York, June 22, 2017Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Song (Northern)
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California, July 12, 2020Recorded by Paul Marvin / Macaulay Library
Song (Northern)
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California, June 08, 2020Recorded by Nancy Christensen / Macaulay Library
Calls (Northern)
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Florida, December 07, 2009Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls (Northern)
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New York, June 22, 2017Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Calls (Northern)
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Florida, May 22, 2012Recorded by Andrew Spencer
Flight calls (Northern)
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May 09, 2011Recorded by Benjamin Van Doren
Song (Southern)
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October 24, 1999Recorded by Kristof Zyskowski / Macaulay Library

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

Songs

In spring, males sing a subtle, quiet coo-coo-coo-coo from concealed locations to attract mates and mark territory.

Calls

Least Bitterns make a variety of calls, including a ticking sound made by a receptive female in response to a singing male, a rail-like gak-gak! that apparently serves as a contact call between mates, and other cackles, clucks, hisses, and shrieks—probably used as alarm calls or in threat displays against predators. Flying nocturnal migrants sometimes give a high, clucking gark that recalls Green Heron or American Bittern but is higher in pitch.