The black-backed bittern, also known as the black-backed least bittern or Australian little bittern, is a little-known species of heron in the family Ardeidae found in Australia and vagrant to southern New Guinea. Formerly lumped with the little bittern, it is one of the smallest herons in the world. This species was formerly placed in the genus Ixobrychus.
Region
Australasia
Typical Environment
Primarily found in Australia, inhabiting freshwater marshes, reedbeds, swamps, and vegetated margins of lagoons and slow-flowing creeks. It prefers dense stands of reeds and rushes where it can forage and nest over shallow water. The species also uses artificial wetlands such as farm dams and rice fields. Individuals occasionally disperse widely following heavy rains and can occur as vagrants to southern New Guinea.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Among the smallest herons, the black-backed bittern is notoriously secretive and often goes undetected as it slips through dense reeds. It was long treated as a form of the Little Bittern but is now recognized as distinct and largely confined to Australia, with only rare vagrancy to southern New Guinea. Its presence often follows water levels, appearing at ephemeral wetlands after rains.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low over vegetation
Social Behavior
Typically solitary outside the breeding season and highly skulking within dense emergent vegetation. Nests are shallow platforms of reeds placed over water, often well hidden. Males defend small territories and give soft calls from cover during breeding.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft and muffled, including low coos, clucks, and ticking notes given from within reeds. During breeding, males produce repetitive clicking or clucking sequences that carry short distances over wetlands.
Plumage
Compact bittern with a glossy black back in males, contrasting pale buff underparts and rufous neck and sides; females are browner with streaking. Both sexes show a buff wing panel visible in flight and a pale throat.
Diet
Feeds on small fish, aquatic insects, crustaceans, tadpoles, and occasionally small amphibians and reptiles. It forages by slow stalking along reed edges and by gleaning from floating vegetation. The dagger-like bill is used to spear or snap up prey at close range.
Preferred Environment
Most active at the margins of dense reedbeds, among rushes and sedges, and in shallow water with ample cover. It also exploits flooded grasslands, rice paddies, and vegetated farm dams.
