#american bitterns

[antiqueanimals]

Wings Along the Waterway. Written and illustrated by Mary Barrett Brown. 1992.

Internet Archive

[ridiculousbirdfaces]

Bittern by Linda Petersen American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)

[errantsquam]

american bittern, ~30min

reference photo by jeff osborne https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/269135761

[stickynotebirds]

293. American Bittern (long)

[triruntu]

#516, an american bittern.

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[yoghurt-bimbo]

Today I am thinking about bitterns.

[alonglistofbirds]

[170/10,977] American Bittern - Botaurus lentiginosus

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae (herons) Subfamily: Botaurinae (bitterns)

Photo credit: Matthew Addicks via Macaulay Library

[birdblues]

American Bittern

[stunkers]

American bittern + California quail + golden mantle ground squirrel and clumpo

[friendsplushies]

*Ruins your day with the knowledge of the worm on a string bird*

The American Bittern is WEIRD. Look at this thing! Basically a worm on a string. But instead of being a little silly toy its just a guy.

And don't even GET ME STARTED on what this dude sounds like.

[na-bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: American Bittern

Photo: Mike Mosser

"Extensive freshwater marshes are the favored haunts of this large, stout, solitary heron. It is seldom seen as it slips through the reeds, but its odd pumping or booming song, often heard at dusk or at night, carries for long distances across the marsh."

- Audubon Field Guide

[lowcountry-gothic]

Ode to the Bittern, by Bekah Zeimetz.

[the-tiniest-demigod]

mother nature just be making anything because what the hell is this

these look like muppets what do you mean they're real i can hear them making cheesy kids jokes right now

is this fool trying to hide. i see you dumbass

your just gonna have a neck this long then try to pull this bull?? i know what you're hiding

trying so hard to be normal but you're not!! you are a freaky fella!!

btw do you guys mind me doing this, i apologize if i'm annoying but i must bully these strange guys

[stickynotebirds]

292. American Bittern

[wingedarrows]

trick or treat! 🕷️🦴

You get the American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus!

(Source)

(Source)

These guys are waterbirds that range all over the United States and Mexico and the southern half of Canada (though uncommon in the United States except in certain areas; I don't know about in Mexico or Canada). They tend to winter in Mexico and the lower states, migrate through the rest of the states, to their breeding grounds in the upper states and Canada.

As a camouflage strategy, they stick their necks up straight and gently sway, as if a reed in the wind.

But my absolute favorite thing about these birds is the noises they make, specifically the water drop call:

[bittern-bird-fanpage]

*folk music plays*