Eurasian Bittern: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Herons, Egrets and Pelicans · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. In spring, the male bittern gives a deep boom like a foghorn or a bull. On a calm night it carries for five kilometres.
2. People once thought it boomed into a straw or into the water. In fact, strong muscles push air out of its throat.
3. If disturbed, a bittern points its bill straight up and freezes. Its streaky feathers then melt into the reeds around it.
4. It rarely flies. Instead it creeps slowly through the marsh and climbs over reeds by gripping several stems at once with its toes.
5. The mother raises the chicks alone. At about two weeks old, they leave the nest and swim off among the reeds.

The quiz

1. On a calm night, how far away can a male bittern's boom be heard?

• Fifty metres
• Five hundred metres
• Five kilometres (correct)
• Fifty kilometres

Its foghorn-like boom carries for five kilometres on a calm night.

2. How does the bittern really make its boom?

• By blowing into a reed straw
• By pushing air out with strong throat muscles (correct)
• By blowing bubbles in the water
• By clapping its bill

Powerful muscles force air out of its oesophagus to make the sound.

3. What does a bittern do when it is disturbed?

• Points its bill up and freezes (correct)
• Dives underwater
• Flies straight up and circles
• Spreads its wings wide

It freezes with its bill pointing up, blending into the reeds.

4. How does a bittern climb over reeds?

• By hopping with both feet
• By pulling itself up with its bill
• By flapping its wings hard
• By gripping several stems at once with its toes (correct)

Its toes can hold several reed stems at once as it climbs.

5. Who raises bittern chicks?

• Both parents together
• The father alone
• The mother alone (correct)
• A group of neighbours

The female rears the chicks without help from the male.

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