Australasian Bittern

1. Large, thick-necked heron with mottled brown and buff plumage

2. Brownish-yellow bill and greenish legs

3. Juveniles are paler with lighter wing mottling and yellowish eyes

These birds are primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, foraging quietly for fish, frogs, insects, and crustaceans along wetland edges. Breeding occurs mainly from October to February, with nests built as platforms of trampled reeds just above the waterline. Females lay 3–6 eggs and are solely responsible for incubating and raising the young, which fledge after about seven weeks. The species is generally sedentary but may move in response to changing wetland conditions.

Australasian Bitterns inhabit large, densely vegetated freshwater wetlands across southeastern and southwestern Australia, including Tasmania, as well as New Zealand and New Caledonia. They prefer areas with tall reeds, sedges, and rushes, often in wetlands with stable water levels and minimal disturbance. Key strongholds in Australia include the Riverina region of New South Wales, Barmah-Millewa wetlands, and parts of southwestern Western Australia. Listen for their booming calls at dusk and night, especially during the breeding season.