American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosus

General Status Rank: 
Sensitive
ELCODE: 
ABNGA01020
Common Name: 
American Bittern
Scientific Name: 
Botaurus lentiginosus
Naming References: 
ASC13
Google image search
Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Pelecaniformes
Family: 
Ardeidae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Economic/Human Considerations

none - sometimes predaceous on agricultural pests
References: 
B004
Habitat
wet vegetation areas,fresh and salt marshes, swamps, moist meadows, wet thickets
References: 
B004
H108
CS25
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

0.16
Score: 
G
References: 
B004
Winter Distribution Description: 
southern BC to southern US

Number of Occurrences

small; scattered and obscure literature records - a few BBS records - anecdotal reports: Sahtu - Denise Creek (1973), Cabin island (GSL 1999), Dehcho (2000, 2014), Nahanni NPR, Hay river (2003) , and Ft Smith (2014)
Score: 
B
References: 
H108
W113

Historical Distribution

southwestern Mackenzie, northern edge of distribution
References: 
B004

Area of Occupancy

trend in distribution unknown but assumed stable in NT and NU
Score: 
-
References: 
MAF12
MAF5
CS25
CS26
Population

Population Size

probably very small;very few records in literature
Score: 
AC
References: 
H108
Trends

Trends

unknown, Continental trend shows decline
References: 
MAF12
MAF5
CS25
CS26
Threats

Threats

Likely limited in NWT, threats to populations likely to occur on southern breeding areas, migration and wintering areas
Score: 
C
References: 
H108
CS25

Intrinsic Vulnerability

wetland loss and alteration,threats to habitat likely to occur on southern breeding areas, migration and wintering areas
Score: 
-
References: 
H108
CS25
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Sensitive
Status Rank Description: 
(Very low number because at northern edge of distribution; no evidence of apparent pop. declines in NWT)Not likely imperiled. NWT population is small, at the northern extent of the range, but probably stable. There are likely few threats on the breeding grounds in NWT, but the population may be sensitive to threats further south.
S Rank: 
S3
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Committee, Vicky Jonhston, Leslie Wakelyn, Suzanne Carriere, Jim Hines, Mike Fournier in 2000. Reviewed in 2005 by J. Hines and C. Swoboda, no change in status; Reviewed in 2010;no change; Reviewed by CWS Danica Hogan in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
February 2, 2015

References

Area of Occupancy

  • Dunn, E. (1997) Setting priorities for conservation, research and monitoring of Canada's landbirds. Canadian Wildlife Service Technical Report Series Number 293 RWED Library QL81.5 .c21 no. 095 - MAF12 Return
  • Dunn, E. (1996) Trends in "other" waterbirds. Environment Canada / Canadian Wildlife Service Bird Trends, No.5, Fall 1996 CWS Office - Mike Fournier - MAF5 Return
  • Gibbs, J. P. , S. Melvin, and F. A. Reid (1992) American Bittern in Birds of North America. The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union No. 18 - CS25 Return
  • Anonymous (2003) Wings over Water – Canada’s Waterbird Conservation Plan. Canadian Wildlife Service, - CS26 Return

Economic Status

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Fournier M.A. (1999) Personal Communication. - H108 Return
  • Gibbs, J. P. , S. Melvin, and F. A. Reid (1992) American Bittern in Birds of North America. The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union No. 18 - CS25 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Fournier M.A. (1999) Personal Communication. - H108 Return
  • Gibbs, J. P. , S. Melvin, and F. A. Reid (1992) American Bittern in Birds of North America. The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union No. 18 - CS25 Return

Naming

  • Chesser, R. Terry, Richard C. Banks, F. Keith Barker, Carla Cicero, Jon L. Dunn, Andrew W. Kratter, Irby J. Lovette, Pamela C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, James D. Rising, Douglas F. Stotz, Kevin Winker. (2010) Fifty-first supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds.. Auk 127(3):726-744. - ASC13 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Fournier M.A. (1999) Personal Communication. - H108 Return
  • Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada (2015) http://ebird.org/content/canada/ - W113 Return

Population Size

Fournier M.A. (1999) Personal Communication. - H108 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Dunn, E. (1997) Setting priorities for conservation, research and monitoring of Canada's landbirds. Canadian Wildlife Service Technical Report Series Number 293 RWED Library QL81.5 .c21 no. 095 - MAF12 Return
  • Dunn, E. (1996) Trends in "other" waterbirds. Environment Canada / Canadian Wildlife Service Bird Trends, No.5, Fall 1996 CWS Office - Mike Fournier - MAF5 Return
  • Gibbs, J. P. , S. Melvin, and F. A. Reid (1992) American Bittern in Birds of North America. The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union No. 18 - CS25 Return
  • Anonymous (2003) Wings over Water – Canada’s Waterbird Conservation Plan. Canadian Wildlife Service, - CS26 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Fournier M.A. (1999) Personal Communication. - H108 Return
  • Gibbs, J. P. , S. Melvin, and F. A. Reid (1992) American Bittern in Birds of North America. The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union No. 18 - CS25 Return