Mystery Bird: Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis

tags: , , , ,

[Mystery birds] Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis, photographed at Anahuac Refuge, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Joseph Kennedy, 1 May 2009 [larger view].

Nikon D200 ,Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/250s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso40.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Review all mystery birds to date.

More like this

tags: Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery birds] Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus, photographed at Anahuac Wildlife Refuge, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow] Image: Joseph Kennedy, 19 May 2009 [larger view]. Nikon D200 ,Kowa…
tags: Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery birds] Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica, photographed at Anahuac Wildlife Refuge, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow] Image: Joseph Kennedy, 19 May 2009 [larger view]. Nikon D200 ,Kowa…
tags: Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery birds] Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, photographed at Anahuac Refuge, Texas. Are they all the same species? [I will identify these birds for you tomorrow] Image: Joseph Kennedy, 1 May 2009 [larger view].…
tags: Least Bittern, North American Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis, photographed at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Anahuac, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours] Image: Joseph Kennedy, 5 July 2010 […

Based on the shape, the bill, the dark cap, the breast coloration and striping, and the back stripes, I'm going to say it's a least bittern. Hiding its neck, though. Damn. I've never seen one of those. Nice shot.

It does look like a least bittern, quite a dramatic plumage compared to the eurasian bittern that we get in my part of the world (and which I've only seen once despite hearing it on many occasions).

yES. THIS IS A LEAST BITTERN. I'M FORTUNATE TO LIVE ABOUT THREE BLOCKS FROM OUR LOCAL BIRDING SPOT WHERE THESE LITTLE GEMS LIVE YEAR ROUND. MUSTANG ISLAND, TEXAS.

By alan w. olson (not verified) on 21 Jul 2009 #permalink

the whole thing screams LEAST BITTERN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By ground-petrel (not verified) on 23 Jul 2009 #permalink