science education resource

Bittern (American)

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Botaurus lentiginosus
Bittern (American)

Range

They winter in the southern U.S. down to Mexico and the Caribbean. They breed in summer in wetlands across most of the U.S. and Canada.

Habitat

They are found in marshy wetlands.

Body Traits

They are mottled brown with a black cheek streak and long, pointed beak. They can be more than 2 feet tall.

Habits

They are very shy and hide in tall plants, standing with head pointed up to blend in with the reeds. They are active at night (nocturnal). They live alone.

Diet

They eat mostly fish or other wetland life, like frogs, crabs and insects.

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

They lay 4-6 eggs.

Bittern (American)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vetebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelicaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Botaurus
Species: B. lentiginosus

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Bittern (American)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. November 25, 2024
< http://exploringnature.org/db/view/209 >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.