Least Bittern

Ixobrychus exilis (Gmelin, 1789) Euring code not available.
Family: Pelecaniformes > Ardeidae

Least Bittern is a very rare vagrant to the UK, first recorded on Shetland in 2022. Least Bitterns are superficially similar to Little Bitterns but breed in North America and Mexico. They are highly migratory, wintering in central and south America. Previous vagrants have occured on the Azores and in Ireland. 

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Least Bittern

  • Breeding
  • Winter
1 record observations recorded by BTO surveyors
1 record

BTO RECORDS

1 record observations recorded by BTO surveyors
1 record

BTO RECORDS

Identification

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Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

POPULATION SIZE

We have no population estimates for this scarce species.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Least Bittern, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Catalan: Martinet menut americà
Czech: buká?ek americký
Danish: Amerikansk Dværghejre
Dutch: Amerikaanse Woudaap
Finnish: amerikanpikkuhaikara
French: Petit Blongios
German: Indianerdommel
Hungarian: amerikai törpegém
Irish: Rengluþvari
Italian: Tarabusino americano
Lithuanian: Nykštukinis baublys
Norwegian: Pygmérørdrum
Polish: b?czek ameryka?ski
Portuguese: Socoí-vermelho
Slovak: bu?iak malý
Spanish: Avetorillo Americano
Swedish: amerikansk dvärgrördrom

Links to more studies from ConservationEvidence.com

Read more studies about Least Bittern on Conservation Evidence >

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