WATER BIRDS. 133 
69. Least Bittern. Ixobrychus exilis ((‘mel.). (191) 
Synonyms: DwarfjBittern, Little Bittern, Least Heron.—Ardea exilis, Gmel., 1789» 
Wils., Nutt., Aud. and others.—Ardetta exilis, Gundl., Baird, Ridgw., Coues, and most 
recent authors. 
Figure 82, 
Known from all but the next (which is extremely rare) by its diminutive 
size—a veritable pigmy among the herons, its body hardly heavier than 
that of a Robin. 
Distribution.—Temperate North America, north to the British Provinces 
and south to the West Indies and Brazil. Less common west of the Rocky 
Mountains; on the Pacific coast north to northern California. 
This tiny bittern or heron is really an abundant bird in all suitable 
places in the state, but owing to its small size, peculiar haunts, and pro- 
tective coloration, it is seldom 
seen unless sought for especi- 
ally. It frequents the wetter 
marshes, particularly those 
covered in large part with 
heavy growths of cattails, wild 
rice, and reeds (Phragmites). 
Occasionally it is found in 
meadows which are not ac- 
tually flooded, or in the 
fringe of brush and water 
plants bordering a quiet 
stream, but those are excep- 
tional cases and it is never 
numerous in such places. 
Even where it is abundant the 
explorer who goes floundering 
and crashing through the 
thick flags is not likely to see 
it unless he stumbles upon the 
nest, or by accident frightens 
the bird so thoroughly as to 
compel it to take flight. Or- 
dinarily when threatened the 
bird selects a favorable place, 
grasps a twig or flag stem, 
stretches head, body and legs 
into one straight line, and re- 
mains immovable—and practi- 
cally invisible—until the dan- 
ger is past. 
The nest is a slight platform 
or shallow saucer of twigs, 
sedges and grasses, in a tussock 
5 Fig. 32. Least Bittern. 
or low bush, or on a mat of From Bull. Mich. Ornith. Club. (By courtesy of P. A. 
broken down flags, always Taverner.) 
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