American Bittern–Guess What Its Orange Eyes Mean…

American BIttern

[Photo used with permission from Redwood Planet Media]

Snap! This stealthy American Bittern snagged a stickleback from the Arcata Marsh’s freshwater ponds in its long straight beak. According to the photographer, “To catch [the small fish], the American Bitterns are wading out on the few patches of floating vegetation left behind by the ducks and coots during the winter.”

These medium-sized herons have warm stripey brown and cream necks which help them blend into the reeds where they are often found. According to AllAboutBirds, “They adopt a classic pose when alarmed, with the beak pointing straight up, helping this streaky bird blend in with its reedy background.”

According to a Fish and Wildlife website, “Adult bitterns have yellow eyes, which turn orange during courtship.”

For fun, check out their percussion like calls at this site. (Their distinctive calls have earned them the names “thunder pumper” and “water-belcher.”)

If you’ve got a heron or an egret photo, share those handsome birds with the rest of us in the comment section below.

 

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26 Comments
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Mary Ann Machi
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Mary Ann Machi
6 years ago

This egret was perched on the dock at the pond at HBNWR a couple months ago and allowed me to approach within 4 feet! We were eye to eye for more than 5 minutes and I had my camera with me. What a photo op!

Jayne Dough
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Jayne Dough
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Love all the Nature/Wildlife photo shares! I am a Birder Dork! Thank you, Kym, for your site and all you do for us followers!

Doug Floraday
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Doug Floraday
6 years ago

Night Heron on the tide flats, Wharfinger Building, Eureka

JustHadTo
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JustHadTo
6 years ago

Blue Heron, Broadway, Eureka.

Jayne Dough
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Jayne Dough
6 years ago
Reply to  JustHadTo

EWWWWW, but FUNNY! giggle

Mobius Moggie
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Mobius Moggie
6 years ago

Beautiful photo. What size lens did you use for this one?

Alan Peterson
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Alan Peterson
6 years ago
Reply to  Mobius Moggie

This was at 800mm on a crop sensor.

Jayne Dough
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Jayne Dough
6 years ago
Reply to  Mobius Moggie

hahaha

Esme
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Esme
6 years ago

Gorgeous!

Alan Peterson
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Alan Peterson
6 years ago

Here’s the classic concealment pose. I’m pretty sure this is the same bird, since only one of them at Arcata Marsh this winter/spring is comfortable being that close to a human.

Lauris
Guest
Lauris
6 years ago

Not to stray too far from herons, but…
This was taken at the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge. I’m sharing this because of the contrast in size and shape between the Great Egret in the foreground and the Greater Sandhill Crane in the background. I thought these egrets were big until I went to Modoc!
The Greater Sandhill Cranes nest at the Refuge and in this picture, one of a pair is tending their egg by rolling it over before sitting back down. These birds are dinosaurs…9 million year old fossils exist of them that are identical to what they are now!

Jungle Girl
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Jungle Girl
6 years ago

This handsome guy likes to hang out across from Safeway in McKinleyville.

Jungle Girl
Guest
Jungle Girl
6 years ago
Reply to  Jungle Girl

Same beauty. He was hunting gophers in the field.

henofthewoods
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henofthewoods
6 years ago

I did a little reading up on them in old naturalist books, old-timers (pre-1900s) also called them “Stakedrivers” and “Shite-Pump or Shite-Poke”. I think the pump/poke thing is related to a crappy pump that has lost it’s prime and it is just making a “kerplunk” sound with the water in the pipe, but not sure.

Mark
Guest
Mark
6 years ago

Hummingbird….

Vern
Guest
Vern
6 years ago

Great American Bittern portrait from the South Eureka Marsh. 16×20 canvas print on display at Humboldt Bay Wildlife Refuge visitor’s center. Enjoy.

Alan Peterson
Guest
Alan Peterson
6 years ago
Reply to  Vern

Nice shot, Vern. Was this at the marsh by the southern end of the Hikshari’ trail, or is there a different marsh I should know about there?

Vern
Guest
Vern
6 years ago
Reply to  Alan Peterson

Yes Alan, at the southern end of the trail. Photo taken from that water inlet/outlet with the iffy railing.

Alan Peterson
Guest
Alan Peterson
6 years ago

Bitterns make all sorts of exaggerated poses and strange facial expressions that look great in photos, but still shots don’t show how elastic their movement is, especially when they extend their necks.

Tom Phipps
Guest
Tom Phipps
5 years ago

I’m not sure what this Heron-like bird is, but it is close to an American Bittern.
Photo taken at the Los Angeles Arboretum…

Tom Phipps
Guest
Tom Phipps
5 years ago

Here is a second photo of the same Heron-like bird, that resembles an American Bittern.
Taken at the Los Angeles Arboretum…

Clifton Adkins
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Clifton Adkins
5 years ago

A few of my pics