Least bittern
Ixobrychus exilis
Identification Tips:
- Very small wading bird
- Buff face and sides to the neck
- White chin, throat, foreneck and belly
- Buff wing coverts visible in flight and at rest
Adult male:
- Black cap
- Black back
- Fairly faint brown streaks on fore-neck
Adult female:
- Brown cap
- Brown back
- More obvious brown streaks on fore-neck
Juvenile:
- Buff cap does not contrast with face
- Blackish streaks on foreneck
- Brown back
Similar species:
Green Heron lacks buff color to head and wings. All other
herons are much larger.