How to identify
The Bittern is a thickset heron with pale, buff-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars. It flies on broad, rounded, bowed wings. A secretive bird, very difficult to see, as it moves silently through reeds at water's edge, looking for fish. The males make a remarkable far-carrying, booming sound in spring. It's very small, reedbed-dependent population make it an Amber List species. It is also a Schedule 1 species, meaning it's illegal to intentionally recklessly disturb them.Another record-breaking yearIt’s been another record-breaking year for Bitterns in the UK with 283 booming males recorded in the latest results from the RSPB and Natural England, a 20% increase from the previous survey and the biggest jump since monitoring began in 1990.
Key
- Resident
- Passage
- Summer
- Winter
* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations. - Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
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- Sep
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- Dec
