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JUVENILE LITTLE BITTERN


JUVENILE LITTLE BITTERN
Photo Information
Copyright: Marius Secan (marius-secan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 163 W: 0 N: 289] (1031)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-28
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-30 11:25
Viewed: 368
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
LITTLE BITTERN (IXOBRYCHUS MINUTUS)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, native to the Old World, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, western and southern Asia, and Australasia. Birds from temperate regions in Europe and western Asia are migratory, wintering in Africa and further south in Asia, while those nesting in the tropics are sedentary. It is rare north of its breeding range.

It is a very small bittern; at 27-36 cm in length, 40-58 cm wingspan and 60-150 g weight. The smallest specimens are perhaps the smallest herons on earth. It has a short neck, longish bill and buff underparts. The male's back and crown are black, and the wings are black with a large white patch on each wing. The female has a browner back and a buff-brown wing patch.

There are four subspecies:

* Ixobrychus minutus minutus (Linnaeus, 1766). Europe, Asia, northern Africa; winters in sub-saharan Africa and southern Asia.
* Ixobrychus minutus payesii (Hartlaub, 1858). Sub-saharan Africa, resident.
* Ixobrychus minutus podiceps (Bonaparte, 1855). Madagascar, resident.
* Ixobrychus minutus dubius (Matthews, 1912). Australia, New Guinea, resident.

The extinct New Zealand Little Bittern (Ixobrychus novaezelandiae) was formerly also treated as a subspecies of Little Bittern.

The Little Bittern's breeding habitat is reedbeds. It nests on platforms of reeds in shrubs, and 4-8 eggs are laid. It can be difficult to see, given its skulking lifestyle and reedbed habitat.

These bitterns feed on fish, insects and amphibians.
nglen, maurydv, zetu has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2860 W: 34 N: 8481] (31692)
  • [2009-06-30 11:29]

Hi Marius. This JUVENILE LITTLE BITTERN blends in well with the grasses in the BG. You have taken a fine head on view of this young one. All with good detail and natural colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 385 W: 0 N: 912] (5058)
  • [2009-06-30 11:31]

Felicitari, inca o imagine reusita despre o specie care este mai greu de fotografiat!

Hello Marius,

This juvenile is very well camourflaged. It is amazing that you saw it!
|Excellent details of plummage and I love the little dance-step!
Good compositiuon, especially with the reeds tracing a diagonal path.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

Hello Marius,
a fantastic picture of a juvenile Little Bittern taken from an excellent POV with outstanding sharpness and very beautiful natural colours, nice composition in a natural environment, i have taken many pictures of this species, but not juvenile.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 15 N: 1561] (6085)
  • [2009-07-01 5:39]

Buna
Excelenta captura, astazi am reusit si eu inca o poza buna cu un mascul al acestei specii.
Numai bine.
Razvan

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