Little Bittern

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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Little Bittern | image = Ixobrychus_minutus_3_(Marek_Szczepanek).jpg | image_width = 200px | image_caption = an immature | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Aves | ordo = Ciconiiformes | familia = Ardeidae | genus = Ixobrychus | species = I. minutus | binomial = Ixobrychus minutus | binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758) }}

The Little Bittern, Ixobrychus minutus, is a very small bittern, 33-38 cm in length with a 49-58 cm wingspan. It is of Old World origins, breeding in much of temperate Europe and western Asia. It is a migrant, wintering in Africa. It is rare north of its breeding range.

This is a small species with a short neck, longish bill and buff underparts. The male's back and crown are black, and the wings are black with a large white patch on each wing. The female has a browner back and a buff-brown wing patch.

The Little Bittern's breeding habitat is reedbeds. It nests on platforms of reeds in shrubs, and 4-8 eggs are laid. It can be difficult to see, given its skulking lifestyle and reedbed habitat.

These bitterns feed on insects, fish and amphibians.

An immature camouflaged in its reedbed habitat

An immature in the open, but still in water

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