Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Winter Visitor
Subspecies:stellaris recorded in Britain (of 2 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
75 cm
Wingspan:
130 cm
Weight:
M: 1.5 kg F: 1 kg
Scientific name from:
ME: botor=bittern (from L.: bos=oxen + taurus=bull)
and L.: stellaris=starry
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Europe, Africa, n&c Asia, WINTERS: also south to s Asia, Philippines
Habitat:
Reedbed & marshes
Diet:
Mostly fish, amphibians, insects but wide variety, mostly in shallow water in or near cover
TitBit:
Famous for its booming call, which can carry a kilometre or more, each bird sounds slightly different, allowing scientists to individually identify male birds
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
No distribution maps available
British Population Size:
Summer:
46 males
in 2005
Winter:
50 to 150 indviduals
in 1981-84
First Record:
8th Century
[Fossil evidence from
early Holocene, up to 10,000 yr ago]
First Breeding Record:
Norfolk (after extinct 1868) 1911
Latest Survey:
Eaton, M.A. et al. (2006) State of the UK's birds 2005 RSPB, Sandy
Conservation Status: RED
because
Historical Population Decline,
Previous Assessments:
2002-2007
RED
1996-2001
RED
Races of Concern:
stellaris RED (Historical Decline)
UK Biodiversity Action Plan
(Lead Partner: RSPB)
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
21 to 29 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
European Species Action Plan
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(I), WBD(I), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
53 x 39 mm
Egg Weight:
42.0 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
2
Clutch Size:
4 - 6 eggs
Incubation:
25- 26 days
by the:
Female
Fledging:
50 - 55days
as:
Altricial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
1
Number Ringed:
9
Adult Survival:
0.700
± 0.050
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
Typical Lifespan:
No data
Maximum Recorded Age:
4yr 3m
(The Netherlands: 11yr 4m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
J
Wing Length
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Weight
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Other Names
Eurasian / Great Bittern
Gaelic:
Corra-ghràin
Welsh:
Aderyn y Bwn
Danish:
Rørdrum
Dutch:
Roerdomp
Finnish:
Kaulushaikara
French:
Butor étoilé
German:
Rohrdrommel
Hungarian:
Bölömbika
Icelandic:
Sefþvari
Irish:
Bonnán
Italian:
Tarabuso
Norwegian:
Rørdrum
Polish:
Bak zwyczajny
Portuguese:
Abetouro-comum
Spanish:
Avetoro
Swedish:
Rördrom
Local Names: Miredrum, Butterbump
Collective Noun: Sedge (or Siege)
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Voisin, C. 1991 The herons of Europe Poyser, London
[598.461 VOI]
Kushlan, J.A. & Hancock, J. 2005 The Herons Oxford University Press
[598.461 KUS]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Wikipedia entry
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides.com
These data should be cited as: Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.24, June 2009). BTO Research Report 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)
button; for sources point at the 
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Other Names
