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Bittern: Least or American?

Discussion

4 replies
Posted by Luke Ormand on October 21, 2009 at 7:46 PM
Bittern: Least or American?
Saw this Bittern flying off in the distance over Shinnecock Bay in Hampton Bays this evening around sunset. First Bittern I've ever seen - is there anyway of telling the difference between Least and American on a flight shot like this?

- Luke
Posted by Jim DeWitt on October 21, 2009 at 8:04 PM
The long back stripe from below the eye to the base of the neck is definitive for American Bittern. By contrast, the Least shows solid chestnut sides and no black at all. The American is also a big, chunky bird, while the Least is small, noticeably smaller in flight.
Posted by James Shadle on October 22, 2009 at 9:25 PM
I agree 100% with Jim on his ID, American Bittern.
Posted by Nate Chappell on October 23, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Yeah, definetly an American, they are very big birds while Least are quite small.
Posted by Luke Ormand on October 23, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Thanks guys. It was my first time seeing one so I wasn't quite sure!