American Bittern vs New Zealand Little Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus compared with Ixobrychus novaezelandiae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Bittern | New Zealand Little Bittern |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Botaurus lentiginosus | Ixobrychus novaezelandiae |
| Order | Pelecaniformes | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae | Ardeidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Extinct |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 54.2 cm (21.3 in) | — |
| Weight | 734.75 g (25.92 oz) | 104.5 g (3.69 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-7 | 2-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
American Bittern only
None
New Zealand Little Bittern only
Conservation Status
American Bittern
New Zealand Little Bittern
About These Birds
American Bittern
The American Bittern is a large heron weighing about 735 g with a 54.2 cm wingspan, inhabiting freshwater marshes and reed beds across North America. When threatened, it freezes with bill pointed skyward, its streaked brown plumage blending remarkably with marsh vegetation.
New Zealand Little Bittern
The New Zealand Little Bittern (Ixobrychus novaezelandiae) is an extinct species of small heron belonging to the family Ardeidae, formerly endemic to the North Island, South Island, and possibly other islands of New Zealand. Known from subfossil bones and a small number of specimens collected in the nineteenth century, this bittern appears to have been similar in general structure to other small Ixobrychus bitterns but with plumage that reportedly differed from its congeners, showing more brownish and streaked tones. It …