Bird · GBIF taxon 2480848
Yellow Bittern
Ixobrychus sinensisAlso known as Chinese Little Bittern, Chinese Bittern
Yellow bitterns creep silently through dense reed beds and rice paddies, clinging sideways to vertical stems with elongated toes. When threatened, they freeze instantly with their head and neck pointed straight skyward, blending seamlessly among surrounding vegetation. Their flight reveals striking contrast, displaying warm yellowish-buff wings against dark flight feathers.
Wading BirdCamouflagedWetland
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Small Fish
- Frogs
- Aquatic Insects
Predators
- Harriers
- Snakes
- Feral Cats
ThreatsWetland degradation, agricultural pollution, habitat loss
HabitatsReed beds, freshwater marshes, paddy fields, mangroves
Life span4–8 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyArdeidae
- SpeciesIxobrychus sinensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe from a distance; can jab with its sharp beak if cornered.
Responsible observation
- Scan vegetation edges: Look low in dense reed beds where birds stalk prey or freeze when alarmed.
- Listen at dusk: Listen for low, repetitive croaking calls echoing across marshes during breeding season.
- Watch flight patterns: Identify them in flight by the stark contrast of dark flight feathers against buffy wings.
Predator 
Close Relative Shantanu Kuveskar / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-saClose Relative Close Relative Close Relative
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