This glimpse is all you might see of the American Bittern emerging from undercover. This solitary member of the heron family winters along the Texas Gulf Coast. This photo was taken just before Valentine's Day 2015 on the San Bernard River in Brazoria County Texas. The San Bernard is one of the few rivers in Texas that empties directly into the Gulf of Mexico.
You'll find Bitterns November to March or April on the lower Texas Coast. They start to move north in March or April depending on the prevailing winds and weather.
Seeing them is mostly finding undeveloped areas with natural grassland and/or wetlands. You may not see them, you can't miss hearing them, sounding like an eerie clock or pump. A pumping “oong ka chunk” resonates throughout the area.
This well-camouflaged heron may only be heard as they walk slowly and stay under cover in vegetation. However, they mostly choose less dense vegetation.
This 2 to 3 foot tall forager is mostly brown with white stripes. Adults develop black stripes as well.
American Bitterns are usually solitary and found in undeveloped open spaces with natural grasslands that are not mowed. Like many grass prairie birds, they beg for preservation of wild space and undisturbed corridors for safe migration. Support Conservation efforts.
To hear the American Bittern's unforgettable sound, follow this link to Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds.
Janice Scanlan writes, researches and edits this blog as well as writes a monthly feature in Fort Bend Independent featuring Margaret's pictures of local birds.
Photos copyrighted by international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.
See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban Fort Bend,Texas backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.
Looking for the right feeder for your birds?
Cornell's Project Feeder Watch has a site with over 100 common birds and feeders that attract them. Press this link.