Little Bittern

Taxobox
name = Little Bittern
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
status_ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49606|title=Ixobrychus minutus|downloaded=12 May 2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern]


image_caption = an immature
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Ciconiiformes
familia = Ardeidae
genus = "Ixobrychus"
species = "I. minutus"
binomial = "Ixobrychus minutus"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1766)

The Little Bittern ("Ixobrychus minutus") is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, native to the Old World, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, western and southern Asia, and Australasia. Birds from temperate regions in Europe and western Asia are migratory, wintering in Africa and further south in Asia, while those nesting in the tropics are sedentary. It is rare north of its breeding range. The Australian race "dubius" is often regarded as a separate species, Black-backed Bittern. [Rasmussen, Pamela C. and John C. Anderton (2005) "Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide"]

Description

It is a very small bittern; at 27-36 cm in length, 40-58 cm wingspan and 60-150 g weight. The smallest specimens are perhaps the smallest herons on earth. It has a short neck, longish bill and buff underparts. The male's back and crown are black, and the wings are black with a large white patch on each wing. The female has a browner back and a buff-brown wing patch.

Taxonomy

There are four subspecies:
*"Ixobrychus minutus minutus" (Linnaeus, 1766). Europe, Asia, northern Africa; winters in sub-saharan Africa and southern Asia.
*"Ixobrychus minutus payesii" (Hartlaub, 1858). Sub-saharan Africa, resident.
*"Ixobrychus minutus podiceps" (Bonaparte, 1855). Madagascar, resident.
*"Ixobrychus minutus dubius" (Matthews, 1912). Australia, New Guinea, resident.

The extinct New Zealand Little Bittern ("Ixobrychus novaezelandiae") was formerly also treated as a subspecies of Little Bittern.

tatus

International

The Little Bittern is one of the species to which the "Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds" (AEWA) applies.

Australia

Little Bitterns are not listed as threatened on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. However, their status varies from state to state within Australia. For example:
* The Little Bittern is listed as threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). [ [http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/EADA0F1874AF9CF24A2567C1001020A388BBA5581CF9D859CA256BB300271BDB Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria] ] Under this Act, an "Action Statement" for the recovery and future management of this species has not yet been prepared. [ [http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/617768308BCB666E4A25684E00192281E7A24BB36FF60A144A256DEA00244294 Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria] ]

* On the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, the Little Bittern is listed as endangered.cite book | author = Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment | title = Advisory List of Threatened VertebrateFauna in Victoria - 2007 | publisher = Department of Sustainability and Environment | date = 2007 | location = East Melbourne, Victoria | pages = 15 | url = | id = ISBN 978-1-74208-039-0 ]

Behaviour

The Little Bittern's breeding habitat is reedbeds. It nests on platforms of reeds in shrubs, and 4-8 eggs are laid. It can be difficult to see, given its skulking lifestyle and reedbed habitat.

These bitterns feed on insects, fish and amphibians.

References

Bibliography

*"Handbook of the Birds of the World" 1: 425-426. Lynx Edicions.

External links

* [http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/36_LittleBitternIminutus.pdf Ageing and sexing (PDF) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta]