# Pinnated bittern

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The **pinnated bittern** (***Botaurus pinnatus***), also known as the **South American bittern**, is a large member of the [heron](/source/Heron) [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) (Ardeidae) found in the [New World](/source/New_World) [tropics](/source/Tropics). Like the other *[Botaurus](/source/Botaurus)* [bitterns](/source/Bittern), its [plumage](/source/Plumage) is mostly buffy-brown and cryptically patterned. Though it is a widespread species, it is rarely seen – presumably due to its skulking habits – and much about its life history remains little known.

## Description

The pinnated bittern is a large heron, measuring between 25–30 in (64–76 cm)[1] with a weight that ranges from 554 to 1,157 g (1.2 to 2.6 lb); males typically weigh considerably more than females.[2] Sexes are similarly plumaged, but females tend to be smaller than males and have brown instead of black on the tail.[3]

Both adults and immature birds are generally [buffy](/source/Buff_(colour)), though heavily marked with cryptic patterning. Juveniles tend to have a somewhat more reddish ground color. The throat is unmarked white, the foreneck is white broadly streaked with pale brown, and the rest of the neck is buff with thin black barring. The breast and belly are white with broad pale brown streaks, while the back is buff, heavily streaked and barred with black. [Rectrices](/source/Flight_feathers) are black in males and brown in females; the slate-grey [remiges](/source/Flight_feather) create a conspicuous two-toned effect in flight.

The bill is stout and strong, yellowish overall with a dusky upper mandible. The bare facial skin is bright yellow, with a brown line running across the [lores](/source/Lore_(anatomy)). The legs are greenish-yellow, and the iris is yellow.

### Voice

If flushed, the pinnated bittern gives a rough [call](/source/Bird_song). During the breeding season, the male booms at dusk and into the night; his call is a deep or .[4]

## Taxonomy and systematics

German [naturalist](/source/Natural_history) [Johann Georg Wagler](/source/Johann_Georg_Wagler), who first described the pinnated bittern in 1829, placed it in the genus *[Ardea](/source/Ardea_(genus))* at that time. It is sometimes included in a [superspecies](/source/Superspecies) with the [American bittern](/source/American_bittern) (*B. lentiginosus*), while other authors consider the entire genus *Botaurus* to consist of a single superspecies.[3]

There are currently two recognized [subspecies](/source/Subspecies), which are separated by a gap in [Central America](/source/Central_America):[3]

- ***Botaurus pinnatus caribaeus*** Dickerman, 1961 – Eastern [Mexico](/source/Mexico), [Belize](/source/Belize) and (rarely) [Guatemala](/source/Guatemala).

- On average longer bill, shorter wings and tail, paler, less streaking on throat.

- ***Botaurus pinnatus pinnatus*** (Wagler, 1829) – southeastern Nicaragua to [Ecuador](/source/Ecuador) and the Guianas, south through [Brazil](/source/Brazil) to [Paraguay](/source/Paraguay) and northeastern [Argentina](/source/Argentina).

- On average shorter bill, longer wings and tail, darker, more streaking on throat.

## Distribution and ecology

The alternate name "South American bittern" is a bit misleading, as the species is found as far north as southern Mexico. Its range stretches from the Atlantic slope of southeastern Mexico to northern Argentina, though there are few records for Guatemala and Honduras. The species occurs mainly in low-lying regions, but has been recorded in the [Cordillera Oriental](/source/Cordillera_Oriental_(Colombia)) of [Colombia](/source/Colombia) as much as 8,500 ft (2,590 m) [ASL](/source/Above_mean_sea_level).[5]

It can be found in a variety of [freshwater](/source/Freshwater) habitats, including dense [reed beds](/source/Reed_bed) and lake borders, flooded tall-grass [pastures](/source/Pasture), [marshes](/source/Marsh) and overgrown ditches. Typically, the vegetation in its habitat is dominated by tall [sedges](/source/Cyperaceae) (Cyperaceae), [water hyacinth](/source/Water_hyacinth) (*Eichornia*), [rushes](/source/Juncus) (*Juncus*), [typical reeds](/source/Phragmites) (*Phragmites*) or [cattails](/source/Cattail) (*Typha*). It will also utilize plantations of [rice](/source/Rice) (*Oryza*) and [sugarcane](/source/Sugarcane) (*Saccharum*).[3]

The pinnated bittern is largely [nocturnal](/source/Nocturnal). Though generally solitary, it will gather in small loose groups at favored feeding areas. When frightened, it tends to freeze with its body crouched low and its head raised vertically just high enough to see. It typically flushes only at close range.

Estimates of its population, and of overall population trends, are unknown. Due to its wide range, it is nonetheless regarded a species of [Least Concern](/source/Least_Concern) by the [IUCN](/source/IUCN).[6][7]

### Food and feeding

Its diet is varied,[3] consisting of [fish](/source/Fish) (including [eels](/source/Eel)), [reptiles](/source/Reptile), [amphibians](/source/Amphibian), chicks, [arthropods](/source/Arthropod), [molluscs](/source/Mollusc), [worms](/source/Worm) (including [leeches](/source/Leech))[8] and small [mammals](/source/Mammal) (even including young [common marmosets](/source/Common_marmoset), *Callithrix jacchus*[9]), all of which are typically taken in ambush.[4] The pinnated bittern is a patient hunter, often standing motionless for long periods while waiting for [prey](/source/Predation) to move within range.

### Breeding

As typical for [Botaurinae](/source/Botaurinae) (but unlike most herons), the pinnated bittern is a solitary breeder. Its [nest](/source/Bird_nest), a platform or shallow cup of rush stems or other plant material, is typically built among thick vegetation not far above the water surface. The female lays two to three olive-brown [eggs](/source/Egg_(biology)), and is thought to do all of the [incubation](/source/Avian_incubation). Pinnated bitterns are almost exclusively [wet season](/source/Wet_season) breeders.[10]

## Footnotes

1. Howell & Webb (1995), p. 135.

1. Dunning Jr., John Barnard (ed.) (2008). [*CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses*](https://books.google.com/books?id=TcnOTPILlcEC&pg=PA32). 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-4200-6444-5. Retrieved 22 July 2015.

1. "Pinnated Bittern". Version 1. 2020. pinbit1.

1. Stiles & Skutch (1989)

1. Martínez-Vilalta & Motis (1992), Howell & Webb (1995): p.135-136

1. Martínez-Vilalta & Motis (1992)

1. BirdLife International. (2021). "*Botaurus pinnatus*". Vol. 2021. [doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22697343A163799916.en](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22697343A163799916.en). Retrieved 12 November 2021.

1. ["*Botaurus pinnatus* (Pinnated Bittern)"](https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/documents/ogatt/Botaurus%20pinnatus_Pinnated%20Bittern.pdf). *The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago Behaviour*. [UWI](/source/University_of_the_West_Indies)

1. de Lyra-Neves *et al.* (2007)

1. Stiles & Skutch (1989), Martínez-Vilalta & Motis (1992)

## References

- de Lyra-Neves, Rachel M.; Oliveira, Maria A.B.; Telino-Júnior, Wallace R.; dos Santos, Ednilza M. (2007). ["Comportamentos interespecíficos entre *Callithrix jacchus* (Linnaeus) (Primates, Callitrichidae) e algumas aves de Mata Atlântica, Pernambuco, Brasil"](http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbzool/v24n3/a22v24n3.pdf) [Interspecific behaviour between *Callithrix jacchus* (Linnaeus) (Callitrichidae, Primates) and some birds of the Atlantic forest, Pernanbuco State, Brazil] (in Brazilian Portuguese, en). *Revista Brasileira de Zoologia*. **24** (3): 709–716. [doi:10.1590/S0101-81752007000300022](https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-81752007000300022)
- Howell, Steven N.G. & Webb, Sophie (1995). [*A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America*](https://archive.org/details/guidetobirdsofme0000howe). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. p. [135](https://archive.org/details/guidetobirdsofme0000howe/page/135). ISBN 0-19-854012-4.
- Martínez-Vilalta, Albert & Motis, Anna (1992): 57. South American Bittern. *In:* del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew & Sargatal, Jordi (eds.): *[Handbook of the Birds of the World](/source/Handbook_of_the_Birds_of_the_World)* (Vol. 1: Ostrich to Ducks): 427–428, plate 30. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-10-5
- Stiles, F. Gary & Skutch, Alexander Frank (1989). *A guide to the birds of Costa Rica*. Ithaca: Comistock. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4.

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