{"id":40478,"date":"2024-07-31T13:17:37","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T11:17:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/2ac399f0-03af-456a-b8ac-5180187a07dd"},"modified":"2024-07-31T14:27:29","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T12:27:29","slug":"great-bittern-guide-what-they-eat-where-they-live-and-how-to-spot-them","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/great-bittern-guide-what-they-eat-where-they-live-and-how-to-spot-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Bittern guide: what they eat, where they live and how to spot them"},"content":{"rendered":"

We take a look at the biggest wader, the Great Bittern <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 31 July 2024 at 11:17 AM<\/p>

\n\n

All you need to know about the wading bird<\/a>, the Great Bittern<\/strong><\/p>

What are Great Bitterns?<\/h2>
The Eurasian or Great Bittern is the largest species of bittern (a member of the heron family) <\/p>
How big are Great Bitterns?<\/h2>
Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
These mighty wading birds are about is 69\u201381\u00a0cm in length, a wingspan of 1.3m. Great Bitterns weigh between 1 and nearly 2kg. <\/p>
Where do Great Bitterns live?<\/h2>
The bird is found across most of Europe, Asia and Africa. They like to breed in dense and extensive Phragmites<\/em> reedbeds.<\/p>
Do Great Bitterns have any other names?<\/h2>
Local names include “bogbull, butterbump’ and ‘miredrum.<\/p>
What do Great Bitterns eat?<\/h2>
Bitterns supplement their main diet of fish with frogs and invertebrates in the summer.<\/p>
How do wading birds find food in mud?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
How to spot Great Bitterns<\/h2>
Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Their cryptic plumage makes bittens hard to spot. particularly among reedbeds with spring growth<\/p>
Look out for birds “fying on broad wings wish legs trailing and neck retracted<\/p>
To hear a booming male the best time is dawn or dusk<\/p>
Watch out for their aerial courtship chases. <\/p>
When is the best time of year to see them?<\/h2>
Bitterns are easier to see in winter when very coid weather forces them out into the open to food.<\/p>
Are Great Bitterns endangered?<\/h2>
Their RSPB UK Conservation status is amber.<\/p>
Discover more fascinating bird species and facts<\/strong><\/p>
What\u2019s the rarest bird in the world?<\/a><\/li>
Weirdest birds: meet the strange and weird wonders of the avian world<\/a><\/li>
How do birds sleep?<\/a><\/li>
Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand?<\/a><\/li>
How long do birds live?<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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Where do Great Bitterns live?<\/h2>The bird is found across most of Europe, Asia and Africa. They like to breed in dense and extensive Phragmites<\/em> reedbeds.<\/p>

Do Great Bitterns have any other names?<\/h2>Local names include “bogbull, butterbump’ and ‘miredrum.<\/p>What do Great Bitterns eat?<\/h2>Bitterns supplement their main diet of fish with frogs and invertebrates in the summer.<\/p>

What do Great Bitterns eat?<\/h2>Bitterns supplement their main diet of fish with frogs and invertebrates in the summer.<\/p>

When is the best time of year to see them?<\/h2>Bitterns are easier to see in winter when very coid weather forces them out into the open to food.<\/p>

Are Great Bitterns endangered?<\/h2>Their RSPB UK Conservation status is amber.<\/p>Discover more fascinating bird species and facts<\/strong><\/p>

Where do Great Bitterns live?<\/h2>
The bird is found across most of Europe, Asia and Africa. They like to breed in dense and extensive Phragmites<\/em> reedbeds.<\/p>

When is the best time of year to see them?<\/h2>
Bitterns are easier to see in winter when very coid weather forces them out into the open to food.<\/p>