UKBirds

Great Bittern

Botaurus stellata

The Eurasian Bittern or Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Bitterns are thickset herons with bright, pale, buffy-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars, similar in appearance to the to the American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosa. The Eurasian or Great Bittern is 69-81 cm (27-32 in) in length, with a 100-130 cm (39-51 in) wingspan and a body mass of 0.87-1.94 kg (1.9-4.3 lb). Their most distinctive feature is the males booming call in spring.