Scientific name: Botaurus stellaris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Bitterns and Herons
Field characters. 70-80 cm. A large, yellow-brown heron-like bird with the entire body being mottled and barred with black; crown and nape black; large legs and toes green. When alarmed may try to camouflage by assuming characteristic Bittern-stance with neck and body stretched vertically, bill pointed to the sky, and eyes swivelled forwards. Flight owl-like on broad and rounded wings, with neck retracted and legs trailing.
Voice. In the breeding season the male produces a deep, resonant and far-carrying booming note.
Distribution. Relatively scarce breeding bird.
Habitat. Restricted to lowland swamps with more or less extensive reedbeds, and densely vegetated wetlands.
Food. Chiefly fish, amphibians, and insects, but also worms, leeches, crustaceans, molluscs, lizards, spiders, and small birds and mammals.
Eggs. Generally unmarked, occasional spotted at blunt end. Ground colour light brown/olive-green, colour of markings slightly lighter than the rest of the egg. Most eggs are completely or almost completely covered with a very thin film. Shape subelliptical. Size 53 x 39 mm (48-58 x 34-41), weight 40 g (35-48).