Australasian Bittern

Botaurus poiciloptilus (Wagler, 1827)

1.1 kgWeight

The Australasian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus), or Matuku-hūrepo in Māori, is a stocky, sizeable and elusive heron-like bird native to the wetlands of Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.

Busiest months: June · Most records: Australia, New Zealand

Vulnerable

Where and when it's recorded

Australasian Bittern has been recorded at 64 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Western Treatment PlantAustralia354 records
Tokaanu Old Wharf RdNew Zealand308 records
Western Treatment Plant – T Section PondsAustralia169 records

More places

Sandy Camp Road WetlandsAustralia127 records
Fivebough WetlandsAustralia99 records
Braeside ParkAustralia94 records
Bushells LagoonAustralia76 records
Tolderol Game ReserveAustralia67 records
Western Treatment Plant – Western LagoonsAustralia66 records
Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora) – Harts Creek Bird HideNew Zealand50 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Australia New Zealand

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The Australasian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus), or Matuku-hūrepo in Māori, is a stocky, sizeable and elusive heron-like bird native to the wetlands of Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. It belongs to the bittern subfamily of the heron family Ardeidae. The Australasian bittern is best known for its cryptic plumage and behaviours, which allows it to blend into the rushes and reeds of its wetland habitats, making it particularly difficult to spot.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Australasian Bittern?

The Australasian Bittern weighs around 1.1 kg.

Where does the Australasian Bittern live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: far southwestern Western Australia, southeastern Queensland to southeastern South Australia and Tasmania (southwestern, southeastern Australia), North, South and Stewart islands (New Zealand), Ouvea (Loyalty Islands) and Grande Terre (New Caledonia; rare). It is most often recorded in Australia and New Zealand.

When is the best time to see the Australasian Bittern?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in June (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Australasian Bittern endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Australasian Bittern as Vulnerable.

What does the Australasian Bittern eat?

Main food: Omnivore.

What family is the Australasian Bittern in?

It belongs to the family Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae), order Pelecaniformes.

At a glance

Weight: 1.1 kg
Habitat: Wetland
Diet: Omnivore
Lifestyle: Active on the ground
Migration: Partial migrant
Conservation: Vulnerable

More measurements

Wing: 320 mm
Tail: 109 mm
Bill: 72 mm
Tarsus: 97 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: far southwestern Western Australia, southeastern Queensland to southeastern South Australia and Tasmania (southwestern, southeastern Australia), North, South and Stewart islands (New Zealand), Ouvea (Loyalty Islands) and Grande Terre (New Caledonia; rare)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2