Showing posts with label bittern. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bittern. Show all posts

Eurasian bittern

   ›      ›   Eurasian bittern - Botaurus stellaris.

The Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is a wading bird belonging to the family Ardeidae. The Eurasian bittern species is distributed in Indian Subcontinent, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Taxonomy of Eurasian bittern

  • Scientific Name: Botaurus stellaris
  • Common Name: Eurasian bittern
  • French: Butor Γ©toilΓ©; German: Rohrdommel; Spanish: Avetoro comΓΊn;
  • Other names: Ardea stellaris Linnaeus, 1758; Great bittern;
  • Family: Ardeidae › Pelecaniformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
  • Species author: (Linnaeus, 1758)
Botaurus stellaris species was previously included in the genus Ardea. The recognized two subspecies are: B. s. stellaris (Linnaeus, 1758) and B. s. capensis (Schlegel, 1863).

Indian birds - Eurasian bittern - Botaurus stellaris
Indian birds - Eurasian bittern - Botaurus stellaris

Description

The Eurasian bittern species are large birds, the male being larger than the female. The male measures 65 to 80 cm in length and weighs 750 to 2,050 grams. The female bittern weighs 650 to 1,150 grams. The wingspan is 125 to 135 cm. These bittern species have bright, pale, buffy-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars.

Habitat

The Eurasian bittern species prefer water bodies with thick fringe vegetation, specially reed beds. They inhabit marshes, ponds, lakes, streams, estuaries, delta marshes, rice fields and flooded grasslands.

Feeding habits

These bittern species is active in the morning and dusk, feeding on insects, frogs, fish, crustaceans, molluscs, snakes, lizards, birds, nestlings and small mammals.

Breeding

The Eurasian bittern species breeding season is from March to July and the males are polygamous. The nests are built on reed beds. The nest may contain four to five eggs.

Distribution

The subspecies B. s. stellaris breeds in Sweden, England, Spain, Central Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, Russia, China and Japan. It winters in Southern Europe, Mediterranean region, South and Southeast Asia, Indian Subcontinent and sub-Saharan Africa. The subspecies B. s. capensis is distributed in Southern Africa.

Movement Patterns

The Eurasian bittern species are partially migratory. The regions where the weather is very cold, the species migrate to warmer south. The birds in temperate regions and subtropical regions are largely sedentary.

Status and conservation

The global population of the Eurasian bittern species is estimated to be 110,000 to 340,000 individual birds. These species have an extremely large range and are considered least vulnerable. The conservation of these species is threatened by loss of reed habitat, human activity near the breeding habitat, water sports and hunting.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these bittern species species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".

Biological classification of Botaurus stellaris
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Pelecaniformes
Family:Ardeidae
Subfamily:-
Genus:Botaurus
Species:B. stellaris
Binomial name:Botaurus stellaris
Distribution:Indian Subcontinent, Europe, Africa and Asia;
Feeding habits:insects, frogs and fish;
IUCN status listing:
Least Concern

Popular posts in Birds of India

Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bittern_-_Botaurus_stellaris.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lincsbirder/10839969015
Author: Roger Hatcliffe (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lincsbirder/) | License: CC BY-SA 2.0
Current topic in Birds of India: Eurasian bittern - Botaurus stellaris.
Posted by
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.

Black bittern

   ›      ›   Black bittern - Ixobrychus flavicollis.

The black bittern (Ixobrychus flavicollis) is a wading bird belonging to the family Ardeidae. These bittern species is distributed in Indian Subcontinent, China, Southeast Asia, Australia and Indonesia.

Taxonomy of Black bittern

  • Scientific Name: Ixobrychus flavicollis
  • Common Name: Black bittern
  • French: Blongios Γ  cou jaune; German: Schwarzdommel; Spanish: Avetorillo negro;
  • Other names: Ardea flavicollis Latham, 1790; Dupetor flavicollis;
  • Family: Ardeidae › Pelecaniformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
  • Species author: (Latham, 1790)
Ixobrychus flavicollis species was previously included in the genus Ardea. The recognized three subspecies are: I. f. flavicollis (Latham, 1790), I. f. australis (Lesson, 1831) and I. f. woodfordi (Ogilvie-Grant, 1888).

Indian birds - Black bittern - Ixobrychus flavicollis
Indian birds - Black bittern - Ixobrychus flavicollis

Description

The black bittern species measures, 55 to 65 cm in length and weighs 200 to 400 grams. The wingspan is 75 to 80 cm. They have longish neck among bitterns and the bill is long. The adult bittern is uniformly black on the back with yellow neck sides. The underside is whitish with brown streaks.

Habitat

These bittern species prefer wetland habitats with dense fringe vegetations. They are found in reed beds along water bodies. They inhabit ponds, lakes, streams and marshes.

Feeding habits

These bittern species feed on insects, insect larvae, crustaceans, molluscs, fish, frogs, lizards and other small animals.

Breeding

These bittern species in India and Pakistan breed in June to September during Southwest monsoon. Their breeding habitat is mostly reed beds. They construct nest platforms and three to five eggs are seen in the nest.

Distribution

The subspecies I. f. flavicollis is distributed in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China and Philippines. The subspecies I. f. australis is distributed in New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago and Australia. The subspecies I. f. woodfordi is found in Solomon Islands.

Movement Patterns

These bittern species are resident birds. Some local movements may occur, especially from north to south for water and rains.

Status and conservation

The global population of the black bittern species is estimated to number 63,000 to 320,000 individual birds. There is decline in population in some pockets. However the range is large. These species are considered least vulnerable. Habitat destruction, human activity in the habitat and destruction of reed habitats are the threat in conservation.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these bittern species species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".

Biological classification of Ixobrychus flavicollis
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Pelecaniformes
Family:Ardeidae
Subfamily:-
Genus:Ixobrychus
Species:I. flavicollis
Binomial name:Ixobrychus flavicollis
Distribution:Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, China, Philippines, Australia and Indonesia;
Feeding habits:insects, frogs and fish;
IUCN status listing:
Least Concern

Popular posts in Birds of India

Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black_bittern_(Ixobrychus_flavicollis).jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gregbm/4499761080
Author: Greg Miles (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gregbm) | License: CC BY 2.0
Current topic in Birds of India: Black bittern - Ixobrychus flavicollis.
Posted by
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.

Cinnamon bittern

   ›      ›   Cinnamon bittern - Ixobrychus cinnamomeus.

The cinnamon bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) is a small wading bird belonging to the family Ardeidae. The cinnamon bittern species is distributed in Indian Subcontinent, China, Southeast Asia and Indonesia.

Taxonomy of Cinnamon bittern

  • Scientific Name: Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
  • Common Name: Cinnamon bittern
  • French: Blongios cannelle; German: Zimtdommel; Spanish: Avetorillo canelo;
  • Other names: Ardea cinnamomea J. F. Gmelin, 1789; chestnut bittern;
  • Family: Ardeidae › Pelecaniformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
  • Species author: (Gmelin, 1789)
Ixobrychus minutus species was previously included in the genus Ardea.

Indian birds - Cinnamon bittern - Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Indian birds - Cinnamon bittern - Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

Description

The cinnamon bittern species is a small bird, measuring 40 cm in length and weighing 100 to 160 grams. The wingspan is nearly 50 cm. They neck is short and the bill is long. The male is colored uniformly cinnamon above and buff below. The female's back and crown are brown. The juvenile looks like the female but heavily streaked.

Habitat

They inhabit a variety of habitats. They prefer reed beds and dense vegetation close to pools, ponds, lakes, streams and marshes.

Feeding habits

These bittern species feed on insects, crustaceans, molluscs, frogs, fish and small reptiles.

Breeding

The breeding season of these bittern species in India is between June to September, during monsoon season.

Distribution

The cinnamon bittern species are distributed in the Indian Subcontinent, including Sri Lanka and Indian Islands. They also occur in China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Philippines and Indonesia.

Movement Patterns

These bittern species are resident birds. The northern population may move to south of their range after breeding. Local movements in search of feed are common.

Status and conservation

The global population of the cinnamon bittern species is estimated to be 130,000 to 2,000,000 individual birds. The species have large range and the population is stable. They are considered least vulnerable. Habitat destruction, human activity in the breeding grounds are the major threats in conservation of these species.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these bittern species species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".

Biological classification of Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Pelecaniformes
Family:Ardeidae
Subfamily:-
Genus:Ixobrychus
Species:I. cinnamomeus
Binomial name:Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Distribution:Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, China and Indonesia;
Feeding habits:insects and other invertebrates, frogs and fish;
IUCN status listing:
Least Concern

Popular posts in Birds of India

Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cinnamon_Bittern_-_Taiwan_S4E9894.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/francesco_veronesi/15389486296/
Author: Francesco Veronesi from Italy | License: CC BY-SA 2.0
Current topic in Birds of India: Cinnamon bittern - Ixobrychus cinnamomeus.
Posted by
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.

Common little bittern

   ›      ›   Common little bittern - Ixobrychus minutus.

The common little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) is a small wading bird belonging to the family Ardeidae. The common little bittern species is distributed in Indian Subcontinent, Africa, Madagascar and Europe.

Taxonomy of Common little bittern

  • Scientific Name: Ixobrychus minutus
  • Common Name: Common little bittern
  • French: Blongios nain; German: Zwergdommel; Spanish: Avetorillo comΓΊn;
  • Other names: Ardea minuta Linnaeus, 1766; little bittern;
  • Family: Ardeidae › Pelecaniformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
  • Species author: (Linnaeus, 1766)
Ixobrychus minutus species was previously included in the genus Ardea. The common little bittern species are considered closely related to I. exilis, I. sinensis and I. dubius. The three recognized subspecies are: I. m. minutus (Linnaeus, 1766), I. m. payesii (Hartlaub, 1858) and I. m. podiceps (Bonaparte, 1855).

Indian birds - Little bittern - Ixobrychus minutus
Indian birds - Common little bittern (immature) - Ixobrychus minutus

Description

The common little bittern is a small bird, measuring 25 to 40 cm in length and weighing 60 to 150 grams. The wingspan is 40 to 60 cm. These bittern species have a short neck and long bill. The back and crown of male bittern are blackish and the underparts are buff. The wings are blackish with a large white patch.

Habitat

The common little bittern species inhabit a variety of habitats. They occur in freshwater marshes, pools, ponds and lakes surrounded by thick vegetation, desert oases, wooded river margins, flooded grasslands and agricultural fields.

Feeding habits

The common little bittern species feed on insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders and beetles. They also feed on molluscs, crustaceans, fish, frogs, tadpoles, small reptiles and birds.

Breeding

The breeding season of these bittern species is from May to July. The nest is constructed on the emergent vegetation with the help of reeds and twigs. Sometimes the nest is found on bushes and low trees.

Distribution

The subspecies I. m. minutus is distributed in Central and South Europe, North Africa, Siberia, Iran, Pakistan and Northwest India. These subspecies winter in Africa. The subspecies I. m. payesii occurs in Africa ( south of Sahara). The subspecies I. m. podiceps occurs in Madagascar.

Movement Patterns

The common little bittern of the nominate subspecies are migratory and move southwards for wintering. The tropical populations in Africa and Madagascar are resident and make local movements for feeding grounds.

Status and conservation

The global population of these bittern species is yet to be estimated after the recent taxonomic split. They have extremely large range of distribution and large population. These bittern species are least vulnerable. Habitat loss and increasing human activity in the breeding grounds are the potential threat to conservation and management of these species.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these bittern species species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".

Biological classification of Ixobrychus sinensis
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Pelecaniformes
Family:Ardeidae
Subfamily:-
Genus:Ixobrychus
Species:I. minutus
Binomial name:Ixobrychus minutus
Distribution:Indian Subcontinent, Asia, Africa and Europe;
Feeding habits:insects and other invertebrates, frogs and fish;
IUCN status listing:
Least Concern

Popular posts in Birds of India

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ixobrychus_minutus_2_(Marek_Szczepanek).jpg
Author: Marek Szczepanek | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Current topic in Birds of India: Common little bittern - Ixobrychus minutus.
Posted by
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.

Yellow bittern

   ›      ›   Yellow bittern - Ixobrychus sinensis.

The yellow bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) belongs to the family Ardeidae. The yellow bittern species is distributed in Indian Subcontinent, Central and East Asia, Southeast Asia, Philippines and Indonesia.

Taxonomy of Yellow bittern

  • Scientific Name: Ixobrychus sinensis
  • Common Name: Yellow bittern
  • French: Blongios de Chine; German: Chinadommel; Spanish: Avetorillo chino;
  • Other names: Ardea Sinensis J. F. Gmelin, 1789;
  • Family: Ardeidae › Pelecaniformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
  • Species author: (Gmelin, 1789)
Ixobrychus sinensis species was previously included in the genus Ardea. The yellow bittern species are considered closely related to I. exilis, I. minutus and I. dubius.

Indian birds - Yellow bittern - Ixobrychus sinensis
Indian birds - Yellow bittern - Ixobrychus sinensis

Description

The yellow bittern species is a small bird, measuring 30 to 40 cm in length and weighing 80 to 100 grams. The wingspan is 45 to 55 cm. They have a short neck and long bill. The male is uniformly dull yellow above and buff below. Male has dull black to blue-grey crown and crest. It has brown forehead and sandy-brown throat. The neck and sides are streaked brown and buff.

Habitat

The breeding yellow bittern species habitat is reed beds. These bittern species inhabit fringe vegetation of water bodies. They are seen in freshwater marshes, ponds, lakes and pools with dense fringe vegetation.

Feeding habits

These bittern species feed mainly on insects and other invertebrates, fish and frogs.

Breeding

The breeding season of these bittern species is from May onwards. They construct platforms in the reed beds among shrubs. Four to six eggs are seen in the nest.

Distribution

These bittern species are distributed in Middle-East region, Indian Subcontinent, Russia, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Philippines and Indonesia.

Movement Patterns

These bittern species are mostly resident. The northern populations may move southwards during winter.

Status and conservation

The global population of yellow bittern species is estimated to be 100,000 to 1,000,000 individual birds. Considering the extremely large range of distribution, large population and insignificant decline, these bittern species are listed as least vulnerable. Habitat loss and increasing human pressure on the fragile habitats becomes a potential threat to conservation and management of these species.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these bittern species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".

Biological classification of Ixobrychus sinensis
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Pelecaniformes
Family:Ardeidae
Subfamily:-
Genus:Ixobrychus
Species:I. sinensis
Binomial name:Ixobrychus sinensis
Distribution:Indian Subcontinent, Central and East Asia, Southeast Asia, Philippines and Indonesia;
Feeding habits:insects and other invertebrates, frogs and fish;
IUCN status listing:
Least Concern

Popular posts in Birds of India

Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ixobrychus_sinensis_-_Bueng_Boraphet.jpg
Author: JJ Harrison (jjharrison89@facebook.com) | License: CC BY 3.0
Current topic in Birds of India: Yellow bittern - Ixobrychus sinensis.
Posted by
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)