BITTERN

'Bitterns' are a classification of wading birds in the heron family Ardeidae. Species named as bitterns tend to be the shorter necked, often more secretive members of this family. Called ''hæferblæte'' in Old English, the word bittern came to English from Old French ''butor'', itself from Gallo-roman ''butitaurus'', a portmanteau of latin Latin ''būtiō'' and ''taurus''.^[1] Bitterns form a monophyletic subfamily in the heron family, the 'Botaurinae'.
Bitterns usually frequent reedbeds and similar marshy areas, and feed on amphibians, reptiles, insects and fish.
Unlike the similar storks, ibises and spoonbills, herons and bitterns fly with their necks retracted, not outstretched.
The genus ''Ixobrychus'' contains mainly small species:

★ Little Bittern, ''Ixobrychus minutus''

★ New Zealand Little Bittern, ''Ixobrychus novaezelandiae'' (extinct)

★ Cinnamon Bittern, ''Ixobrychus cinnamomeus''

★ Stripe-backed Bittern, ''Ixobrychus involucris''

★ Least Bittern, ''Ixobrychus exilis ''

★ Yellow Bittern, '' Ixobrychus sinensis''

★ Schrenck's Bittern, ''Ixobrychus eurhythmus ''

★ Dwarf Bittern, ''Ixobrychus sturmii''

★ Black Bittern, ''Ixobrychus flavicollis''
The genus ''Botaurus'' is the larger bitterns:

★ American Bittern, ''Botaurus lentiginosa''.

★ Great Bittern or 'European Bittern', ''Botaurus stellaris''

★ South American Bittern, ''Botaurus pinnatus''

★ Australasian Bittern, ''Botaurus poiciloptilus''

★ ''Botaurus hibbardi'' (fossil)
The genus ''Zebrilus'' includes only one species:

★ Zigzag Heron (or properly 'Zigzag Bittern'), ''Zebrilus undulatus''

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Notes

Notes

1. Bittern The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language