9-inch Least Bittern
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This 9-inch Least Bittern carving was hand-crafted from solid Basswood. Bitterns are wading birds, consequently most of these birds have long legs, neck and bill for stalking food in shallow water. The Least Bittern can be identified by its buffy, inner wing patches as this small, rather secretive heron flushes briefly from dense marsh cover. When alarmed, it may freeze with its bill pointing up. The male back and crown are black whereas in the female, they are browner. Juvenile Least Bitterns resemble the female but have more a prominent streaking on the back and breast. The calls include a series of harsh kek notes. The song is a softer series of ku notes and is heard only on the breeding ground.
Reference
National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds of North America, Fifth Edition, Page 108
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