Gunther Zieger

Small heron with a large, discontinuous range from W Europe to E Kazakhstan, and Africa S. of equator. In Europe, N to Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Estonia. Similar taxa on other continents recently elevated to species level. Breeds in freshwater marshes with reeds, rushes or other dense vegetation, bushes and trees. Also other aquatic environments. Migratory, African population resident. Very dispersive. Diet insectivorous. European population 63,100-111,000 pairs, seriously declined due to habitat destruction and pollution, and increased mortality in Africa due to drought and desertification.

Season of assessment

B

Population trendStable
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		171000-301000,230000
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 Little Bittern

Lack of recent data from W and C Europe due to negative population trend and little ringing activity; connections in the map refer mainly to 1935-1980. More recent ringing activities only in SW, SC and SE Europe. Birds from W. Europe move either SW or SE and connect to France and Spain, or to Italy and N. Africa. Birds in C. Europe connect to sites within region, longer distance movements directed SW to SW and connect to Italy and three locations widely apart in Africa. Many short-distance connections in all directions within regions. At least some juveniles remain in the African winter quarters during their second summer (Pezzo & Gosler 2005).

Recoveries by Condition for Little Bittern

Over threequarters of all reencounters are from ringing recoveries that nevertheless occur in just four locations; at the Oder river in Eastern Germany, in the Czech Republic, in SW Hungary, and on Sicily, Italy. Another 6.5% refer to birds that were alive but identified by other means, usually at the same or nearby locations. The remaining 18% are dead recoveries, nearly all of which are in C, SC and SE Europe and Africa. Among dead recoveries, shot birds represent 3.5%, mostly in Italy.

Annual Movements for Little Bittern

Reencounters are scarce in Jan – mid Mar, and only in Africa and Spain. From end Mar more recoveries in Spain and Italy, some Middle East. In May, many recoveries in N. and C. Italy, Switzerland and various locations in E. Europe, also scattered in Spain. Not until begin Jun reencounters appear in low countries. Density increases end Jul and Aug in same areas, fading out again in Sep. By begin Oct, hardly any birds N. S.  France and Italy, and reencounters become scarce again by end Oct, mainly occurring in Spain with odd recoveries elsewhere. Migration to and wintering in Africa very much underrepresented in ringing recoveries, wintering in Spain possibly overestimated.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Little Bittern

Birds during breeding in W Europe Jun – Aug connect to within region in Aug – Dec, and to Spain, Morocco Sep – May, or to Italy, Tunisia, Libya Aug – Oct. Birds during breeding in SW Europe Jun – Aug connect to within region Sep – Dec, Morocco and Niger Delta, Mali in Jan. Passage birds in May and Sep connect to low countries in Jun - Jul, Italy Aug - Sep, Austria Sep, Ivory coast Dec and Mali in Mar. Most birds in SC Europe passing through during autumn Sep – Oct or spring Mar – May, all connecting to low countries and C Europe in Jun – Aug. C. European birds show many short-distance connections within the region Jun – Aug, and to Italy in Sep – Nov, Algeria Sep, and Mali and Congo in Apr.

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
Pezzo, F., Gosler, A.G.2005 . Evidence of prenuptial moult in the Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus. Ringing & Migration 22: 129–132

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