Black Bittern at nest.
Photo: Purnell Collection © Australian Museum
Black Bittern at nest with chicks.
Photo: Purnell Collection © Australian Museum
Distribution map of Ixobrychus flavicollis
Map © Birds Australia Birdata
Black Bittern
Scientific name: Ixobrychus flavicollis
Family: Ardeidae
Order: Ciconiiformes
- Featured Bird Groups
- Shore birds and waders
What does it look like?
Description
The Black Bittern is a sooty black or dark brown bittern with a yellow patch on the sides of the neck, extending from the throat to the wing. The feathers on the crown and lower neck are almost plumes. The legs are dark. The Black Bittern is sometimes called the Yellow-necked Bittern.
Similar species
Like Black Bitterns, Striated Herons, Butorides striatus, are found in mangroves, but Striated Herons are smaller (up to 49 cm) and are lighter grey with a black cap.
Where does it live?
Distribution
Black Bitterns are found in coastal south-western, northern and eastern Australia south to far eastern Victoria.
Habitat
Black Bitterns roost and nest in trees, and are found in tree-lined wetlands and in mangroves. They forage in both daylight and darkness, mainly from shady trees over water, but may be seen during the day in open areas of short marshy vegetation and along creeks in shrubby vegetation.
Seasonal movements
Black Bitterns are sedentary throughout the year.
What does it do?
Feeding
Black Bitterns feed on a wide range of small animals, but mainly fish and amphibians. They stalk prey slowly or stand and wait for prey to emerge, but may sometimes plunge at it from a perch, before stabbing it with their sharp bills.Breeding
Black Bitterns nest in trees over water. The nest is a loose platform with a shallow depression in the centre.
Living with us
Living with humans
Loss of wetlands by draining reduces the range of habitats available to the Black Bittern.
References
Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. 1997. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
Simpson, K and Day, N. 1999. Field guide to the birds of Australia, 6th Edition. Penguin Books, Australia.
Higgins, P.J. and S.J.J.F. Davies (eds) 1996. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 3 (Snipe to Pigeons). Oxford University Press, Victoria.
Slater, P, Slater, P, and Slater, R 1989. The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds. Lansdowne. Revised edition.