Fun Dwarf Bittern Facts For Kids

The dwarf bittern (Ixobrychus sturmii) is a member of the Ardeidae family and is a type of heron. The distribution of this bird covers large parts of Africa. They are a migrant species, with dwarf bitterns from the north and south showing definite migratory patterns, especially during the breeding season.

These dwarf bitterns are small birds, with dark upperparts and light and streaked underparts. They have a dark bill and reddish-brown or dark brown irises.

You can spot dwarf bitterns in their natural habitat that mostly includes wetlands as they are a kind of waterbird. They have a carnivorous diet and are known to feed on insects, small fishes, spiders, and so on.

Nesting activities are usually carried out during the wet season by this bird. The nest of a dwarf bittern is built using twigs and dried grass.

The number of dwarf bitterns in the wild has not been assessed, as their entire distribution range is yet to be ascertained. Fortunately, they are marked as being species of Least Concern by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature.

To learn more about the dwarf bittern bird, keep reading! You can also check out sunbittern facts and yellow bittern facts.

Dwarf Bittern Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a dwarf bittern?

The dwarf bittern is a kind of heron, belonging to the north and south of Africa.

What class of animal does a dwarf bittern belong to?

The dwarf bittern species is a part of the class Aves. They are classified under the Ardeidae family, like the night heron. This family consists of herons and birds known as bitterns and egrets.

How many dwarf bitterns are there in the world?

The overall population of these dwarf bittern birds remains unknown, mostly because the extent of their range and distribution is yet to be ascertained. However, they are described as being uncommon or rare in large parts of their range. During the rainy season, the population of this species in South Africa was estimated to be nearly 200 pairs.

Where does a dwarf bittern live?

The dwarf bittern is primarily an African species, as much of their distribution occurs throughout southern Africa, especially to the south of the Sahara. They are residents of Angola, Bostwana, Congo, and Zimbabwe in the southern part of Africa.

In North Africa, they inhabit Chad, Mali, Sudan, and Nigeria, among several other places. The breeding range of this species includes Ghana, Senegal, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and parts of South Africa.

From November to April, these birds are commonly found in South Africa.

During the dry season, both the birds from the southern and northern ranges migrate towards the equator. Even though the distribution of this species is mostly seen on the African continent, they are not endemic, as some birds have been observed as far away as France and the Canary Islands.

What is a dwarf bittern's habitat?

The habitat of dwarf bitterns is characterized by wooded areas, marshes, margins of streams, lakes, pools, and rivers, and so on. They are also known to inhabit mangroves, rice fields, and seasonally flooded areas. Such habitats usually have changing water levels and dense foliage.

Who do dwarf bitterns live with?

These dwarf bitterns are known to forage in pairs or alone. During the breeding season, these birds are observed to be solitary or are found in small groups with a dozen or more pairs.

How long does a dwarf bittern live?

The exact lifespan of a dwarf bittern (Ixobrychus sturmii) is not known. However, another member of the family Ardeidae, known as the Eurasian bittern, has a lifespan of nine years. Therefore, it can be assumed that dwarf bitterns have similar longevity.

How do they reproduce?

The breeding season varies within the natural range of these birds. Following successful breeding, the female lays three to four white or pale blue eggs in a nest made of twigs and lined with grass. The eggs are incubated for at least 18 days.

After hatching out, the newly born chicks are fed through regurgitation. Seven days after hatching, the chicks are able to leave their nest, if disturbed, but tend to come back. When the chicks are fully feathered, they leave the nest to explore a larger area.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of dwarf bittern birds is marked as Least Concern by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature or IUCN. That being said, the population range of this African bird species can be severely affected by hunting and killing, as they are sold in traditional medicine markets in Nigeria in Africa.

Dwarf Bittern Fun Facts

What does the dwarf bittern look like?

The appearance of the dwarf bittern (Ixobrychus sturmii) definitely makes it unique. This bird has dark upperparts and streaked underparts.

In the male bird of this species, the head and neck plumage appear dark gray, while the throat, breast, and abdomen, become buff or tawny in color, with black streaks. The dwarf bittern's wings are also dark gray in color.

In the female bird, the feathers on the belly appear to be more rufous. In birds of both sexes, the upper bill is black or dark green, while the lower bill is yellow in color.

Their legs and feet are greenish-yellow at the front and yellow at the back. The orbital skin is blue to yellowish-green, while their irises are reddish-brown to much darker red.

How cute are they?

The dwarf bittern bird is certainly quite cute and adorable. Their distinct plumage further enhances their appearance.

How do they communicate?

These dwarf bittern birds communicate mainly through calls and vocalizations. Their calls sound like loud croaks or have 'hoo, hoo' notes. During courtship displays, their legs and feet become bright orange in color which can also be considered to be a form of communication.

How big is a dwarf bittern?

The length of a dwarf bittern is between 9.8-11.8 in (25-30 cm), while their height is 9.8 in (25 cm). The dwarf bittern wingspan can be up to 19.6 in (50 cm). This species is much smaller in length than the American bittern, which has a length between 22.8-33.4 in (58-85 cm).

How fast can a dwarf bittern run?

The exact running speed of the dwarf bittern (Ixobrychus sturmii) is not known. However, it has been observed that they walk quite slowly and inconspicuously while hunting.

How much does a dwarf bittern weigh?

The weight of a dwarf bittern is usually around 0.3 lb (142 g). They are considerably lighter than another member of the Ardeidae family, known as the yellow-crowned night heron, which weighs between 1.4-1.8 lb (650-800 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Male and female bitterns of this species are known as male dwarf bittern birds and female dwarf bittern birds, respectively.

What would you call a baby dwarf bittern?

A baby dwarf bittern is known as a chick.

What do they eat?

These African birds are carnivorous in nature and their diet includes a variety of animals. They are known to feed on insects, crabs, small fish, spiders, and snails. Grasshoppers and water beetles form a substantial part of their diet. They generally forage at night or during cloudy conditions. These birds are known to defend their feeding territories.

Are they dangerous?

There are no known instances to suggest that the dwarf bittern species is dangerous.

Would they make a good pet?

Dwarf bitterns are not usually kept as pets. Since they are a truly wild species, it would be difficult to meet their requirements at home.

Did you know...

The dwarf bittern (Ixobrychus sturmii) can be distinguished from the striated heron (Butorides striata), which is also found in Africa and belongs to the same family Ardeidae, due to being smaller in size and having black streaks on its underparts. It also has uniformly dark upper plumage, while the striated heron has barred upperparts.

Additionally, the dwarf bittern species can be separated from the closely related little bittern species due to it lacking pale wing coverts, and also being darker and smaller in comparison.

Is the dwarf bittern a waterbird?

Dwarf bitterns are considered to be waterbirds. Their natural range usually covers areas with freshwater where they build their nests among the reed vegetation. Their diet consists of fish and amphibians collected from swampy areas, which further proves their aquatic nature.

How many eggs do dwarf bitterns lay?

The breeding season of the dwarf bittern species is usually synchronized with the rainy season. However, in some parts of their range, it can occur during the dry season as well.

These dwarf bitterns build their nest in reeds, trees, or bushes, and even hanging branches. The nest is 2.7 in (7 cm) deep and is lined with dried grass by the bird. The female dwarf bittern lays three to four eggs.

The dwarf bittern eggs are white or pale blue in color. Incubation lasts for more than 18 days.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Louisiana waterthrush facts and common ground dove facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable birds on a bench coloring pages.