Michele Mendi

Secretive and solitary heron, breeding in a broad band around 50th latitude from Western Europe and UK to Eastern Asia, and in South Africa. Migratory, but more patchily breeding populations further south in Europe are mainly resident. Population still large, but decreasing due to habitat destruction, degradation and fragmentation, not yet leading to a trend below the thresholds to be classified as Vulnerable. Strong preference for quiet lowland marshes around lakes and rivers with extensive reedbeds. Diet consists of fish and amphibians and variety of other small animals.

Season of assessment

B

Population trendStable
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		147000-206000,174000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Eurasian Bittern

Birds from Northern populations in Sweden and Finland show longest movements, mainly with a SW orientation, some Finnish birds moving due S. Wintering sites of these birds are in the UK, France, Italy and Croatia, few in Spain. Movements of Western and Central European birds are shorter and more erratic, most movements are between WNW and SSW, some SE. Long-distance movements of birds from the Netherlands invariably before 1970. UK birds show short movements within the country in various directions. Eastern birds move both SW and SE, and show longer movements, comparable to those of northern populations.

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Bittern

Majority of encounters are of dead birds, one quarter shot, mainly in France. Dead, sick or wounded birds mainly in Netherlands, presumably wintering birds found or taken in during cold weather. Very few ringing recoveries. Proportion live re-encounters higher after 1991, almost one-third refers to birds alive, identified by other means.

Annual Movements for Eurasian Bittern

From November to February all encounters concentrated in low countries, UK, France, occasionally Central Europe. From end March first movement towards NE apparent with scattered encounters in Fennoscandia and Baltic states. By May, many encounters in E Germany and Poland, stretching into June, when also most encounters in Fennoscandia are concentrated. In August and early September scattered encounters all over Europe, possibly due to post-breeding (natal) dispersal. Few encounters in September, southernmost locations reached in October.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Bittern

Birds in June, July in N Europe predominantly re-encountered in December in UK, France, Spain and Italy. Few birds that move South re-encountered in Aug-Oct in Russia, suggesting passage with wintering areas in Middle East and Africa, where undetected. Birds in June, July in C. Europa in low countries and France in December. Birds outside breeding season in N. and C Europe re-encountered close-by in winter. UK breeders remain in UK. Birds in S.C. in winter all re-encountered in June in C. and N. Europe. Birds in W. Europe in June, July in France and UK Oct-Jan, or close-by in all months, but tracking study revealed some birds cross Sahara (van der Winden et al 2020). Birds in winter in W. Europe re-encountered in June in Sweden, Finland, few C. and E. Europe. Shorter winter movements within region.

Henk van der Jeugd

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
van der Winden, J., Hogeweg, N., Shamoun-Baranes, J., Piersma, T.2020 . Sex-related migration distances in the dimorphic Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris breeding in The Netherlands. Ardea 107: 283–290

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