The Black Bittern, Ixobrychus flavicollis, is a bittern of Old World origin, breeding in tropical Asia from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka east to China, Indonesia and Australia. It is mainly resident, but some northern birds migrate short distances.

in flight in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

This is a fairly large species at 58cm in length, with a longish neck and long yellow bill. The adult is uniformly black above, with yellow neck sides. It is whitish below, heavily streaked with brown. The juvenile is like the adult, but dark brown rather than black.

Their breeding habitat is reedbeds. They nest on platforms of reeds in shrubs, or sometimes in trees. 3-5 eggs are laid. They can be difficult to see, given their skulking lifestyle and reedbed habitat, but tend to fly fairly frequently, when the all black upperparts makes them unmistakable.

Black Bitterns feed on insects, fish and amphibians.

Conservation Status

Australia

Black Bitterns are not listed as threatened on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

State of Victoria, Australia

• The Black Bittern is listed as threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). Under this Act, an Action Statement for the recovery and future management of this species has not yet been prepared.

• On the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, the Black Bittern is listed as vulnerable.

Gallery

in Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India.

in Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India.

in Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India.

in Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India.

in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.