American bittern Botaurus lentiginosus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 23 inches Wingspan: 45 inches
• Medium-sized wading bird
• Dark brown upperparts
• Underparts streaked brown and white
• Black malar streak
• Yellow bill with dark culmen
• Black primaries and secondaries
• Sometimes "freezes" with neck held upwards
• Immatures similar to adults but lack the malar streak

Similar species:

Least Bittern is much smaller with buff wing coverts. Immature Night-Herons have white spotting or streaking on the upperparts, lack the black malar streak, have thicker bills, and lack the black primaries and secondaries (a useful field mark in flight).