Least bittern Ixobrychus exilis

Identification Tips:

• Length: 11 inches Wingspan: 17 inches
• 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.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.