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Species Information

Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Craniata
    Class: Aves
      Order: Pelecaniformes
        Family: Ardeidae
          Genus: Botaurus
            Species: lentiginosus

American Bittern - Botaurus lentiginosus

355029

Species Extent (New Mexico)

General Description

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a large (60-85 cm) waterbird with a long, thick neck and long, pointed bill. They are distributed discontinuously from Canada through Mexico, with some populations in Central America and the Caribbean. It feeds on fish, crustaceans, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals in freshwater marshes. Human use and draining of wetlands has led to habitat loss and degradation, resulting in declining bittern populations.

Status

Global Rank: G5

State Rank: S2

State Status:

Federal Status:

USFS Status:

BLM Status: BLM WATCH

SWAP Status: SGCN

NMRP Strategy Status:

Observations in Natural Heritage New Mexico Database

Number of Subpopulations: 1

Number of Mapped Locations: 1

Number of Observations: 3

Observation date range: 04-30-2014 to 11-09-2016

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