Botaurus
American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Subfamily: Botaurinae
Genus: Botaurus
Stephens, 1819
Type species
Ardea stellaris
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

See text

Botaurus is a genus of bitterns, a group of wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae. The genus name Botaurus was given by the English naturalist James Francis Stephens, and is derived from Medieval Latin butaurus, "bittern", itself constructed from the Middle English name for the Eurasian Bittern, Botor.[1] Pliny gave a fanciful derivation from Bos (ox) and taurus (bull), because the bittern's call resembles the bellowing of a bull.[2]

The genus has a single representative species in each of North, Central and South America, Eurasia, and Australasia. The two northern species are partially migratory, with many birds moving south to warmer areas in winter.

The four Botaurus bitterns are all large chunky, heavily streaked brown birds which breed in large reed beds. Almost uniquely for predatory birds, the female rears the young alone.[3] They are secretive and well-camouflaged, and despite their size they can be difficult to observe except for occasional flight views.

Like other bitterns, they eat fish, frogs, and similar aquatic life.

Species

Image Scientific name Common Name Distribution
Botaurus lentiginosus American bittern the U.S. Gulf Coast states, all of Florida into the Everglades, the Caribbean islands and parts of Central America.
Botaurus stellaris Eurasian bittern Europe and Asia from the British Isles, Sweden and Finland eastwards to Sakhalin Island in eastern Siberia and Hokkaido Island in Japan.
Botaurus pinnatus Pinnated bittern or South American bittern Mexico to northern Argentina, though there are few records for Guatemala and Honduras.
Botaurus poiciloptilus Australasian bittern Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Ouvea.

Extinct species

References

  1. ^ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 75, 365. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  2. ^ "Bittern (1)". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 16 May 2016.(subscription required)
  3. ^ Sibly, Richard M.; Christopher C. Witt; Natalie A. Wright; Chris Venditti; Walter Jetz; James H. Brown (2012). "Energetics, lifestyle, and reproduction in birds". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 109 (27): 10937–10941. doi:10.1073/pnas.1206512109. PMC 3390878. PMID 22615391.


Categories