American Bittern in West Texas - USA (1 Viewer)

jonsund

Florida Naturalist

• Mar 29, 2014

• #1

According to all our sources the American Bittern does not exist in this area of Texas. Lajitas is between Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park. Before we post this bird we would like to confirm its ID.

 

Attachments

• 
  American Bittern-5388.jpg

  294.4 KB · Views: 106

J

jremmons

Wildlife Biologist

• Mar 29, 2014

• #2

That is indeed an American Bittern. American Bitterns winter throughout southern US from coast to coast and migrate through the entirety of TX to their more northerly breeding grounds. Where did you hear they were not winter residents in TX?

Justin

 

nartreb

Speak softly and carry a long lens

• Mar 29, 2014

• #3

A quick check of a few written and online sources (Sibley, Peterson, Cornell, HeronConservation,...) shows the usual disagreement about where "winter range" changes over to "migrant/vagrant"; in the Big Bend area the line could be a couple hundred miles either side of the Mexican border, depending which source you trust. A sighting in Big Bend in springtime is not going to surprise anybody.

(Yes, that is an American Bittern, no question.)

 

steveo

King Midas in reverse

• Mar 29, 2014

• #4

First time is saw one of these I nearly drove into a frickin wetland.

 

jonsund

Florida Naturalist

• Mar 29, 2014

• #5

According to The TOS Handbook of Texas, Second Edition, March 12, 2014, "Rare to locally uncommon migrants in the eastern third of the state and generally rare west to the Trans-Pecos, where very rate to casual." The last posting in eBird was November 21, 2011, making one think they are not seen too often. It is not often that you see an American Bittern while visiting the largest desert in North America.

Thank you for the conformation ID.