Yellow Bittern
Botaurus sinensis
黄苇鳽
Introduction
Small bittern of Old World origins belonging to the family Ardeidae. Breeds in the northern Indian subcontinent, east through the Russian Far East, Japan, and Indonesia. Inhabits freshwater marshes and swamps. Primarily resident, though northern populations undertake short-distance migrations. Has occurred as a vagrant in Alaska.
Description
Small bittern measuring 36 to 38 cm in length with a short neck and longish bill. Legs are yellow-green; bill is ivory with a darker upper portion. Tail is short and black; irises are yellow. Males have a dark cap, chestnut head and neck, with uniformly dull yellow upperparts and buff underparts. Females have streaked cap, neck, and breast, a rufous hindneck and upper back, and streaked dark red-brown underparts with buff. Juveniles resemble females but are more boldly streaked with brown on the head and back and mottled buff upperparts.
Distribution & Habitat
Range extends across the northern Indian subcontinent eastward through the Russian Far East, Japan, and Indonesia. Inhabits freshwater marshes and swamps throughout this range. Builds nests as small platforms of reeds or twigs in reed bed vegetation or in trees and shrubs adjacent to or above water. Mainly resident, but northern populations migrate short distances. Single British record at Radipole Lake in November 1962 is considered of uncertain provenance and not accepted on the official British List.
Behavior & Ecology
Diet consists of a variety of insects, fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and molluscs. Lays clutches of four to six pale blue-green eggs. Nests are constructed as small platforms of reeds or twigs in reed beds or in trees and shrubs near water. No vocalization information provided.
Conservation
Protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. IUCN conservation status and population trends not provided in source material.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Genus
- Botaurus
- eBird Code
- yelbit
Distribution
southern Asia, Malay Archipelago, New Guinea region, and southern Oceania
Data Sources
CBR Notes: 由Ixobrychus属归入Botaurus属（Päckert et al. 2014；Hruska et al. 2023；Chesser et al. 2024）
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.