American Bittern– Examing threats in"Bittern Stance" Botaurus lentiginosus February – Texas L=28” ...... WS=26” ....... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) Stealth and camouflage are principal strategies of the American Bittern for hunting and avoiding danger, respectively. They will stand motionless in the weedy fringes of marshes for long periods waiting for prey. Their eyes point downward to aid them in spotting the prey. When frightened they enter what is termed the “bittern stance” stretching their neck and head skyward. This has two advantages – it makes spotting them difficult as their marking blend almost imperceptibly with the weedy areas they frequent and it positions their eyes to see forward and thus see their enemy. Because American Bitterns are very secretive and stay in inaccessible habitats little is known about their behavioral characteristics. But they do not go unnoticed as they make a loud, eerie booming sound that carries for miles. Thus, they are more frequently heard than seen.
American Bittern– foraging Botaurus lentiginosus February – Texas L=28” ...... WS=26” ....... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)
Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica August – Texas L=5.5”...... WS=8” ...... WT=0.35 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Parulidae (Wood-Warblers) Yellow-throated Warblers occupy two habitats - (i) mixed pine-hardwood forests and (ii) heavily wooded river/stream bottomlands and nest and feed mostly in the high canopy of these woodlands. Much of its foraging occurs in pine trees where it inserts its long bill into pine needles and pine cones in search of insects. Where sympatric (inhabiting the same geography) with the Pine Warbler there is little competition between these two birds since they employ differing foraging techniques due to the dissimilar length of their bills See next photo for photograph of Pine Warbler.
