ID Keys: Dark back and tail, white underparts with buffy streaks, buff head
and neck, black crown.
A shy, secretive bird of dense weedy marshes and sloughs, and
one of the smallest of the world's herons. Rather than wading like most of the
herons, the Least Bittern uses its long toes to clamber around emergent wetland
vegetation, just above the water's surface. The Least Bittern is one of
multiple similar species to "freeze" when startled, raising its head
and swaying back and forth in an attempt to blend in with the swaying marsh
vegetation.
Habitat
Freshwater marshes and sloughs with dense
emergent wetland vegetation.
Diet
Mostly small fish
and large insects. Also crustaceans, amphibians, small rodents, and small
snakes.
Behavior
Least Bitterns cling to vegetation stems
with their feet, staying just above the water's surface, searching for prey
and thrusting the bill downwards to grab prey items when spotted.
