Black bittern

The black bittern is a captivating bird native to the Old World, known to breed in the tropical regions of Asia, from Bangladesh to Australia. Typically, this bird remains within its habitat, although some individuals may travel short distances. It is a relatively large bird, measuring approximately 58 cm in length, making it the largest species within the genus Ixobrychus. One of its distinctive features is its long neck and yellow bill. Adult black bitterns exhibit striking black plumage on their upper parts and yellow sides on their necks, while juveniles are dark brown.

These birds prefer to breed in reed beds, where they construct nests on platforms made of reeds within shrubs or trees. They typically lay between three to five eggs. Due to their secretive behavior and preference for dense habitats, spotting them can be quite challenging. However, if you do manage to see one in flight, their all-black upper parts make them easily identifiable. Their diet mainly consists of insects, fish, and amphibians.

In terms of conservation, black bitterns are not currently considered threatened under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999. However, in Victoria, Australia, they are listed as threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act of 1988 and are marked as vulnerable on the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria. Unfortunately, there has not yet been any formal Action Statement developed for their recovery and management under Victorian legislation.