Facts about Great Bittern
- 07
Swallowing entire fish and small eels whole, Great Bitterns regurgitate indigestible bones and scales as pellets similar to those produced by owls.
- 06
In winter, Great Bitterns migrate from northern Europe to the Mediterranean and Africa, with some individuals traveling over 3,000 kilometers to escape frozen wetlands.
- 05
Roughly 1 kilogram in weight, Great Bitterns are surprisingly heavy for their height due to dense muscle mass required for powerful hunting strikes in wetlands.
- 04
Botaurus stellaris populations have declined by up to 90 percent across Europe since the 1970s due to wetland habitat loss and drainage.
- 03
A Great Bittern's neck contains 17 vertebrae, allowing it to strike downward at prey with remarkable speed and precision while hunting in dense wetland vegetation.
- 02
The Great Bittern's cryptic plumage of brown and buff streaks provides camouflage so effective that the bird can remain motionless among reed beds for hours without detection.
- 01
During breeding season, male Great Bitterns produce a distinctive booming call that can be heard up to 5 kilometers away and is among the loudest sounds made by any bird in Europe.