96 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
AMERICAN BITTERN: Botaurus lentiginosus (Montagu) 
Plate 7 
Description . — Length: 24-34 inches, wing 9.8-12, tail 3-4, bill 2.5-3.2, tarsus 
3.1-3.8. Feathers of back of head and neck, long, lax and coarse; sides of breast 
with concealed white or buffi / nuptial plumes in breeding male , ordinarily absent in 
female. Adults: Upperparts brown, streaked and mottled with buffy in a fine and 
intricate vermiculated design; wing tips black; throat white, side of neck with wide 
black velvety streak, sometimes absent; underparts yellowish , coarsely striped with 
white; iris yellow, bill and legs mostly yellowish green, or greenish yellow. Young 
in juvenal plumage: Like adult, but without black patch on side of neck, plum¬ 
age softer, more buffy. 
Comparisons. — The Bittern when near by, with its size and buffy or yellowish 
underparts and intricate back pattern, stands alone, but the young Black-crowned 
Night Heron suggests it (see pp. 93-94). At a distance, in flight, the Bittern’s out¬ 
line, head drawn in and legs outstretched, suggests the herons, but difference in size, 
its slow wing beat, and its habit of lighting on the ground distinguish it. 
Range. —Most of North and Middle America. Breeds from British Columbia, 
central Mackenzie, Hudson Bay region, and Newfoundland south to Florida (less 
frequently in southern states), Kansas, southern Colorado, New Mexico (probably), 
northern Arizona, and southern California; winters principally on the Pacific coast 
(a few in southwestern British Columbia), and in southern States but also in Mexico 
and Central America south to Panama; casually to Jamaica, Bermuda, and Europe. 
State Records. — The American Bittern undoubtedly breeds in northern New 
Mexico, for eggs have been taken near Alamosa, Colorado, close to the New Mexico 
line and there are many places with similar natural conditions in the northern part 
of the State. As yet no nests have been reported, but one of the birds was seen 
June 7, 1898, near Las Vegas (Mitchell); along the Rio Grande near Fort Thorn, a 
few were seen each summer from 1853 to 1855 (Henry); "and they were reported in 
1908, as being common in summer at San Rafael (Bailey) and at Mangus Springs 
(Metcalfe). [At Lake Burford two were found May 29 and June 11, 1918, and as 
both were pumping, the birds may breed there (Wetmore). At the Rio Grande Gun 
Club lakes one was seen and others heard pumping in the tall grass, June 16, 1919, 
presumably nesting; about 15 were noted, May 9, 1920, in the willows at the San 
Simon marshes (Ligon).] 
In the fall migration [one was taken at Silver City, September 26, 1922 (Kellogg)]; 
some were noted near Santa Rosa the first week in October, 1902 (Gaut), one near 
Albuquerque October 9, 1901 (Birtwell), and a late migrant at San Rafael, October 
30, 1908 (Bailey). 
A spring migrant appeared at Albuquerque, April 20, 1901 (Birtwell).—W. W. 
Cooke. 
Nest. —Usually in marshes but also in brush-grown meadows, on the ground, or 
over water, a platform made of sticks, stems of grass, weeds, or rushes. Eggs: 
4 to 7, brownish drab. 
Food. —Frogs, lizards, small snakes, crawfish, mollusks, and small marsh animals, 
as meadow mice, shrews, and small birds, rarely small fish; also insects, as dragon 
flies, grasshoppers, locusts, and water bettles. 
General Habits. —The American Bittern is a remarkable product 
of evolution, combining protective or “ obliterative coloration” made 
effective by protective attitudes, with the use of startlingly conspicuous 
