Bittern is a general name for grallatorial birds of the genus Botaurus of the subfamily Botaurinae. They are wading birds related to the heron, but with shorter necks, stouter bodies and variegated brown colouration. They live in marshes and reedy swamps where they are solitary and nocturnal, feeding on frogs, small fish, mice, crayfish and other animals.
There are two British species, the common bittern (Botaurus stellaris), and the little bittern (Boyaurus minutus), a native of the south, and only a summer visitor to Britain. Both, however, are rare due to the reclamation of the marshy grounds that form their favourite haunt. The common bittern is about 71 cm in length, with a wing span of about 110 cm. The bitterns have long and loose feather on the breast and a short tail and a bill about 10 cm long. Bitterns are remarkable for their curious booming or bellowing cry, from which come the provincial names of miredrum and butter-hump, etc. The eggs which are greenish-brown in colour are laid in a batch of four or five in number. The little bittern is not more than 38 cm in length. Research Bittern
Abbreviations
Nature
Research Bittern