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The species New Zealand Bittern is extinct. |
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Alternative names: New Zealand Little-bittern, Brown-backed Little-bittern, Black-backed Bittern (beware of confusion with Ixobrychus dubius)
- Ixobrychus novaezelandiae
Identification
38 cm (15 in)
Similar Species
Distribution
New Zealand. Extinct (last recorded in the 1890's)
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
The species has in the past been considered a subspecies of Little Bittern. Some authorities have also considered it conspecific with Black-backed Bittern from Australia.

Habitat
Thought to have been freshwater wetlands.
Behaviour
No information about diet or breeding available at time of editing.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- BirdLife International
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) New Zealand Bittern. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 February 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/New_Zealand_Bittern
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.