March’s Bird of the Month is the Least Bittern, and here is the article in the upcoming March 2018 Kite written by Clive and Celecia Pinnock.

March Bird of the Month – Least Bittern

Considered by some to be one of the most beautiful in the heron family, the Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) is the world’s smallest heron. It showcases a combination of black, brown, yellow, and white streaks which help to mask the bird’s presence in its marsh environment. It has a pointed yellow bill, yellow eyes, and long legs that are green in the front and yellow in the back. In adult males the back and crown are black; brown replaces the black in females and juveniles. Also, the streaking on the back and breast of juvenile birds is more pronounced.

Like its larger counterpart, the American Bittern, the Least Bittern may freeze with its bill pointed upward when alarmed. This behavior and its cryptic markings give the bird a distinct advantage over unsuspecting prey and hide it from the prying eyes of predators. Least Bitterns seem to prefer denser freshwater marshes than the American Bittern and most of these favored marshes are primarily composed of reeds, cattail, sedges, bulrushes and other marsh vegetation. The birds are occasionally observed on the fringes of the wetland while foraging and sometimes even in brackish water marshes.

Here in South Florida, resident populations of Least Bitterns are joined in the fall and winter months by northern breeding populations escaping the freezing effects of northern winters. Due to their secretive nature, it is challenging to observe the birds, and they are more easily identified at the start of the breeding season in spring, when the males become quite vocal.

Photographer’s please note: Next month’s BOM is the REDDISH EGRET.

Please check out the picture by Anne DuPont in the March KITE cover and to see the slide show of the entire virtual gallery this month, along with photographer etc  — click on BOM SLIDE SHOW below the pictures displayed here:

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BOM SLIDE SHOW – March 2018 Bird of the Month – Least Bittern