[Length 28 in. Wingspan 42 in.]

When surprised Bitterns will point their head and bill straight up, exposing their streaked underside, which blends in amazingly well to the reeds and grasses they usually frequent. This tactic does not work well, however, when the bird leaves the reeds to hunt frogs and mice in fields (as can be seen in this photo), although at a distance the bird can be mistaken for a stump or fencepost. This American Bittern was photographed while hunting in an open field at La Creek NWR, South Dakota, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1992)

[Length 28 in. Wingspan 42 in.]

This American Bittern was photographed in flight over an open field at La Creek NWR, South Dakota, USA.. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: June 1986)

[Length 28 in. Wingspan 42 in.]

American Bitterns are common, but secretive, breeding in marshes throughout the US and southern Canada. When surprised they will point their head and bill straight up, exposing their streaked underside, which blends in amazingly well to the reeds and grasses they usually frequent. In the spring they can be heard giving their "ga-goonk" calls, which sound like an old-fashioned hand water pump. This one was photographed hunting along the edge of the reeds at Brigantine NWR in New Jersey, USA. Photo taken with a 750mm f5.6 Celestron mirror lens on Ektachrome 400 film. (Date: November 1977)

[Length 28 in. Wingspan 42 in.]

This American Bittern was photographed at Anahuac NWR, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S f4 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: April 15, 2005)

[Length 28 in. Wingspan 42 in.]

This displaying male American Bittern was photographed at Quivira NWR, Kansas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC20E II 2.0x Teleconverter (EFL=900mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: May 1, 2007)

[Length 28 in. Wingspan 42 in.]

This displaying male American Bittern was photographed at Quivira NWR, Kansas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: May 1, 2006)

[Length 28 in. Wingspan 42 in.]

This American Bittern was photographed at the Convention Center gardens, South Padre Island, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens on a Nikon D7100 camera. (Date: May 3, 2013)

[Length 28 in. Wingspan 42 in.]

This American Bittern was photographed at the Convention Center gardens, South Padre Island, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens on a Nikon D7100 camera. (Date: May 3, 2013)

[Length 28 in. Wingspan 42 in.]

This American Bittern was photographed at Quivira NWR, Stafford, Kansas. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens on a Nikon D7100 camera. (Date: May 12, 2019)