Bird name: Little Bittern
Latin: Ixobrychus minutus
Other: Blongios Nain • Pelicaniformes ?
Family: Ardeidae • Bitterns

Photos: monacoeye • Nice • May 2009

Not much of a view of this Little Bittern, which was with some waders by the runway in Nice. Despite the distance, it is still recognisable from the cream patches on its wings.

In the last couple of months, in or near Nice, I’ve seen the Cattle, Little and Great Egrets, Grey and Purple Herons, Squacco Heron and Little Bittern. I hope to see the Night Heron and (Great) Bittern which should both be nesting in the Var reed banks.More photos...

026 Ardeidae • Herons, Bitterns - IOC 2.5 - 2010

Ardeidae (herons) and Threskiornithidae (ibises, spoonbills) are all in Pelecaniformes

Zonerodius heliosylus - Forest Bittern - New Guinea

Tigriornis leucolopha - White-crested Tiger Heron - W, C Africa

Tigrisoma lineatum - Rufescent Tiger Heron - Widespread Latin America
Tigrisoma fasciatum - Fasciated Tiger Heron - Costa Rica to N Bolivia, SE South America
Tigrisoma mexicanum - Bare-throated Tiger Heron - Mexico to Colombia

Agamia agami - Agami Heron - E Mexico to Amazonia

Cochlearius cochlearius - Boat-billed Heron - WC Mexico to NE Argentina

Zebrilus undulatus - Zigzag Heron - N, C South America

Botaurus stellaris - Eurasian Bittern - Widespread Eurasia - Africa, N Asia
Botaurus poiciloptilus - Australasian Bittern - SW, SE Australia, New Zealand
Botaurus lentiginosus - American Bittern - Widespread North America - Central America, Caribbean
Botaurus pinnatus - Pinnated Bittern - E Mexico to NE Argentina

Ixobrychus involucris - Stripe-backed Bittern - N, SE, SW South America
Ixobrychus exilis - Least Bittern - E, SW USA to SE Brazil
Ixobrychus minutus - Little Bittern - S, C Europe to C Asia, NW India, Africa. Eurasia, Africa
Ixobrychus dubius - Black-backed Bittern - E, SW Australia - Split from I. minutus
Ixobrychus sinensis - Yellow Bittern - Widespread Asia, also E Asia - Australasia
Ixobrychus eurhythmus - Von Schrenck's Bittern - E Eurasia - E Asia
Ixobrychus cinnamomeus - Cinnamon Bittern - Widespread Asia, also E Asia
Ixobrychus sturmii - Dwarf Bittern - Widespread Africa

Dupetor flavicollis - Black Bittern - Widespread Asia, Australasia

Gorsachius magnificus - White-eared Night Heron - S, E China
Gorsachius goisagi - Japanese Night Heron - Japan - SE China, Philippines
Gorsachius melanolophus - Malayan Night Heron - Widespread Asia
Gorsachius leuconotus - White-backed Night Heron - Widespread Africa

Nycticorax nycticorax - Black-crowned Night Heron - Worldwide except Australasia
Nycticorax caledonicus - Nankeen Night Heron - Widespread Australasia - New name

Nyctanassa violacea - Yellow-crowned Night Heron - E USA to Peru & E Brazil

Butorides virescens - Green Heron - E & C USA to Panama
Butorides sundevalli - Lava Heron - Galápagos Islands - Split from B. striata
Butorides striata - Striated Heron - Widespread South America, Eurasia, Africa, Australasia

Ardeola ralloides - Squacco Heron - Widespread Eurasia, Africa
Ardeola grayii - Indian Pond Heron - Persian Gulf to Burma, Maldive Islands
Ardeola bacchus - Chinese Pond Heron - E Asia
Ardeola speciosa - Javan Pond Heron - E Asia
Ardeola idae - Malagasy Pond Heron - Madagascar, Aldabra Island - C, E Africa
Ardeola rufiventris - Rufous-bellied Heron - E, C Africa

Bubulcus ibis - Western Cattle Egret - S Europe to Iran, Africa, Indian Ocean Is., North and Latin America. Eurasia, Africa, North America, Latin America - New name
Bubulcus coromandus - Eastern Cattle Egret - S, E Asia, Australasia - Split from B. ibis

Ardea cinerea - Grey Heron - Widespread Eurasia, Africa, Asia
Ardea herodias - Great Blue Heron - Widespread North America, Middle America
Ardea cocoi - Cocoi Heron - Widespread South America
Ardea pacifica - White-necked Heron - Australia, S New Guinea
Ardea melanocephala - Black-headed Heron - Widespread Africa
Ardea humbloti - Humblot's Heron - Madagascar
Ardea insignis - White-bellied Heron - E Himalayas
Ardea sumatrana - Great-billed Heron - Southeast Asia to N Australia
Ardea goliath - Goliath Heron - Widespread Africa
Ardea purpurea - Purple Heron - Widespread Eurasia, Asia, Africa
Ardea alba - Western Great Egret - North America, South America, Africa, Europe to C Asia - New name
Ardea modesta - Eastern Great Egret - S, E Asia to Indonesia and Australasia. Eurasia, Asia - Split from A. alba

Pilherodius pileatus - Capped Heron - E Panama to SE Brazil

Syrigma sibilatrix - Whistling Heron - N, SC, SE South America

Egretta intermedia - Intermediate Egret - Widespread Asia, Africa, Australasia - New name
Egretta picata - Pied Heron - Sulawesi to N Australia
Egretta novaehollandiae - White-faced Heron - Widespread Australasia
Egretta rufescens - Reddish Egret - S USA, Caribbean
Egretta ardesiaca - Black Heron - Widespread Africa
Egretta vinaceigula - Slaty Egret - SC Africa
Egretta tricolor - Tricolored Heron - SE USA to N South America
Egretta caerulea - Little Blue Heron - SE USA to S Brazil
Egretta thula - Snowy Egret - Widespread North America, Latin America
Egretta garzetta - Little Egret - Widespread Eurasia, Africa, Asia, Australasia
Egretta gularis - Western Reef Heron - W Africa, NE Africa to W India, Sri Lanka
Egretta dimorpha - Dimorphic Egret - E, Madagascar
Egretta sacra - Pacific Reef Heron - Southeast Asia to New Zealand
Egretta eulophotes - Chinese Egret - E Eurasia - SE Asia