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Australian Little BitternAlternate name(s): "Little Bittern", "Black-backed Little Bittern", "Black-backed Least Bittern", "Minute Bittern", "Kaoriki" Size: 25-35 cm; wing span ca. 0.5 m Weight: 60-120 g (84 g average) |
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Similar |
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See Australian
Little Bittern at Wikipedia ![]() |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Frontal view of a male Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Near-frontal view of a male Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Near-frontal view of a male Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Near-lateral view of a male Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Lateral view of a male Australian Little Bittern emerging
from dense reeds to go foraging in a more open area
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Lateral view of a male Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Lateral view of a male Australian Little Bittern looking for prey
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Lateral view of a male Australian Little Bittern on the prowl
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Size comparison between a male Australian Little Bittern
(slightly out of focus) and an
Intermediate Egret
in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
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FEMALE |
Near-frontal view of a female Australian Little Bittern standing
in a tussock
[Near Maules Creek, NSW, January 2014]
Lateral view of a female Australian Little Bittern moulting into
adult plumage
[Near Maules Creek, NSW, January 2014]
The same Australian Little Bittern as shown above, now in its
"cryptic posture"
[Near Maules Creek, NSW, January 2014]
Dorsal view of an Australian Little Bittern in flight
[Near Maules Creek, NSW, January 2014]
A female Australian Little Bittern was found by us in this seep
of a minor creek
running through at the time extremely dry woodland
[Near Maules Creek, NSW, January 2014]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral view of a juvenile Australian Little Bittern; note the
conspicuous striation on neck and wing coverts
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Lateral view of a juvenile Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Lateral view of a juvenile Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Lateral view of a juvenile Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Lateral view of a juvenile Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Lateral view of a foraging juvenile Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Lateral view of a juvenile Australian Little Bittern
in erect stance (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Dorsal view of a juvenile Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Territorial? | Mobility: Migratory | Elementary unit: Solitary |
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
lbittrn_20161208.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Contact calls | © MD | |
lbittrn_20161208.m4a | (NW NSW) | Contact calls (with foreground) | © MD | |
lbittrn_20161208_4.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Contact calls | © MD | |
lbittrn_20161208_4.m4a | (NW NSW) | (As above; original recording) | © MD | |
lbittrn_20211018.m4a | (NW NSW) | Male advertising calls | © MD |
More Australian Little Bittern sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.