Masters of Camouflage
APRIL 25, 2023
This massive and beautiful bird, the American Bittern, is more commonly heard than seen. They are highly secretive, and extremely well camouflaged blending into the wetland environments in which they spend their days. They have a boisterous - decidedly unbirdlike - call that has given them many nicknames including stake-driver, thunder-pumper, and water-belcher. If you aren't familiar with this call, you can listen to samples here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Bittern/sounds
Bitterns commonly adopt what is known as the "concealment pose" where they almost transform into a surrounding cattail, even "waving" in the wind with the nearby vegetation. This photograph was taken at about a 30 foot distance - imagine how hard this bird would be to spot at 100 feet or more! This allows the bird not only to hide from other predators, but also from it's prey - including insects, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals. Their most common insect prey include water striders, giant water bugs, water beetles, water scorpions, grasshoppers, and especially dragonflies, which the birds sometimes manage to capture in midair. Favorite fish include eels, catfish, pickerel, sunfish, suckers, perch, killifish, and sticklebacks. Crayfish, crabs, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, garter snakes, water snakes, and meadow voles round out the diet. Most prey is swallowed headfirst, and undigestible portions are regurgitated as pellets (similar to the owl pellets frequently found in the woods!)
This male was particularly active and vocal, and seemed to have a definite opinion about the fact that a canoe was working through HIS marsh. Males are known to be aggressively territorial, and this one appeared to be no exception. In fact, at one point, I was actually concerned that I might get billed right out of my boat!
Another interesting feature of these birds are their very unique eyes, which can focus downwards, making them look both cross-eyed and startled (much like the photographer that was being charged!). The thought is that this orientation of the eyes improves the bird's ability to find, and capture prey in the water far below the head. The eyes will turn an orange color during breeding season.
This day was particularly sunny, as well as windy - and as we sat and contemplated each other, I noticed that even bitterns have "bad hair days!" I can assure you that this bird looks massive when you are encountering it face to face, but in reality, although the wingspan is impressive at over 3 feet, it's body weight is only 1-2.5 pounds. I somewhat hate to admit that I was intimidated by a 2 pound bird -- but then remember that the beak runs up to 8 cm (over 3 inches), and at the time - the spear coming at my face is what I was focussed on!
Luckily, I can hear this bird displaying from my porch over breakfast - and now I have a much better understanding of his activity and behaviour having watched a morning of concealing, foraging, displaying, and "fake" charging. I have watched him fly over the marsh many times in years past, and always wondered about his lifestyle - and am now anxiously awaiting the appearance of his mate. The female does the nest building and rearing of the young - the male appears to have nothing to do with the process after mating. She will build a platform nest in some dense cattails and incubate and provide all care for the young.
What a beautiful bird that is so effective at camouflage that many people never see what is right in front of them!
And another very striking bird is the focus of today's Instagram question...... there are two species which are almost look-alikes that are found in Maine. One is considered a rare species, the other is relatively common. What species is this bird - and how do you tell the common bird from the rare bird? Don't know the answer? Pop over to my Instagram page to find out!
