66 
CICONIIFORMES 
Field Marks. As the bird rises from the reeds or grass its long neck, dangling legs, 
and general yellowish coloration are easily recognized. The juvenile Night Heron may 
seem similar but is never so decidedly yellow and the wing quills are not in such black 
contrast with the rest of the body. At a distance, in flight, its outline — head drawn in 
to the body and legs reaching out behind — is so similar to that of the herons that unless 
the light so falls as to show the colour, only apparent size differentiates them. Rapidity 
of wing beat is often a clue to difference in size when other bases of comparison are absent. 
A large bird can never beat its long wings as rapidly as a small one can. In spring, in 
mating display, the American Bittern shows a small bunch of pale yellow plumes springing 
from over the bend of the wing (Figure 106). 
Nesting. On the ground, in grass, hayfields, or reed-grown marshes. Nest of grass 
or reeds. 
Distribution. Across the continent: north to southern Labrador, southern Hudson 
Bay, Great Slave Lake, and southern Alaska, breeding wherever found. 
References to the lonely booming of the bittern are frequent in 
English literature. We can hardly say that our American Bittern “booms,” 
but its note is most peculiar and is unique amongst American bird notes. 
The common names, “Thunder-pump” and “Stake-driver,” are applied 
in reference to the strange noises it makes. Near a marsh one may hear 
a sound as of some one driving a stake with a wooden maul into soft mud. 
There is the dull thud of the blow with a sucking liquid echo, followed 
closely by a squdgy drive. At other times sounds are heard like some one 
frantically working a dry suction-pump that draws the water part way 
and refuses to lift it farther. These are variants of the Bittern’s love song 
and contain no recognizable vocal qualities. 
Economic Status. The American Bittern is a bog haunter and eats 
frogs, crawfish, snakes, small fish, crustaceans, insects, and probably even 
young birds and mice. It eats little or no vegetable matter. Bitterns are 
quite harmless as a class and may be useful. 
191. Least Bittern, le petit butor. Ixobrychus exilis. L, 13. Smallest heron- 
like wader found in Canada. Coloured in broad masses of creams, ochres, and Indian reds, 
with black or brown back and cap, depending on sex. 
Distinctions. Owing to its small size and striking coloration can be mistaken for 
no other bird in Canada except perhaps its very close and rare relative, Cory’s Least 
Bittern Ixobrychus neozenus. "this latter bird has the creams and ochres replaced by seal 
or reddish brown and it is still undecided whether or not it is only a colour phase of 
the common form. 
Field Marks. Small size and striking colours make the 
species unmistakable. Seldom seen except at close range 
when colour and size are evident. 
Nesting. Generally over water, in nest on platform of 
dead rushes in a marsh or reed-patch. 
Distribution. Eastern North America, regularly only 
just crossing our border in Ontario and Quebec. There are 
several records for Manitoba. 
191. 1. Cory’s Least Bittern, le petit butor de 
cory. Ixobrychus neoxena. L, 13. Like the previous 
species, but the whites and creams replaced by rich chestnut 
brown. 
Distinctions. As above. 
Distribution. Except for stray specimens, known only 
from southern Florida and Ashbridge Bay, Toronto. With 
the filling up of the latter locality the species may be extinct 
today. Individuals have been taken in various places in 
southern Ontario, Michigan, and a few other northern 
states of the middle west. 
Figure 107 
Least Bittern (male); 
scale, f. 
