Botaurus

Botaurus is a genus of bitterns, a group of wading birds in the heron family Ardeidae. The genus includes species that were previously placed in the genus Ixobrychus.

Taxonomy

The genus Botaurus was introduced in 1819 by the English naturalist James Francis Stephens.<ref name=stephens>Template:Cite book</ref> Stephens did not specify the type species but this was designated as Ardea stellaris Linnaeus (Eurasian bittern) by George Gray in 1840.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The name Botaurus is Medieval Latin for a bittern. The word combines Latin bos meaning "oxen" (compare butire "to boom") and taurus meaning "bull".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In describing the Eurasian bittern Stephens wrote: "At this period the male makes a singular noise, which is compared with the deep bellowing of a bull, and is continued for about two months: ...".<ref name=stephens/><ref name = oedbitt>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Subscription required</ref>

The genus formerly contained fewer species. Molecular genetic studies found that the genus Ixobrychus was paraphyletic with respect to Botaurus.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> To resolve the non-monophyly the genus Ixobrychus was merged into Botaurus which has priority.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=ioc>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The bitterns are large chunky, heavily streaked brown birds which breed in large reed beds. Almost uniquely for predatory birds, the female rears the young alone.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> They are secretive and well-camouflaged, and despite their size they can be difficult to observe except for occasional flight views. They eat fish, frogs, and similar aquatic life.<ref name=hbw>Template:Cite book</ref>

Species

The genus contains 14 species, this includes the New Zealand bittern which is now extinct.<ref name=ioc/>

Image	Scientific name	Common Name	Distribution
File:Eurasian Bittern - Torrile - Italy 4528 (15409347121).jpg	Botaurus stellaris	Eurasian bittern	File:Botaurus stellaris map.svg Europe and Asia from the British Isles, Sweden and Finland eastwards to Sakhalin Island in eastern Siberia and Hokkaido Island in Japan
File:Botaurus poiciloptilus (Australasian Bittern; Matuku) (48719316081).jpg	Botaurus poiciloptilus	Australasian bittern	File:Botaurus poiciloptilus map.svg Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Ouvea
File:American Bittern in California.JPG	Botaurus lentiginosus	American bittern	File:Botaurus lentiginosus map.svg the U.S. Gulf Coast states, all of Florida into the Everglades, the Caribbean islands and parts of Central America
File:Botaurus pinnatus.jpg	Botaurus pinnatus	Pinnated bittern or South American bittern	File:Botaurus pinnatus map.svg Mexico to northern Argentina, though there are few records for Guatemala and Honduras
File:Ixobrychus involucris.jpg	Botaurus involucris (formerly placed in Ixobrychus)	Stripe-backed bittern	File:Ixobrychus involucris map.svg Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and the island of Trinidad, and in Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Brazil
File:Least Bittern Toronto 2018-05-26-2.jpg	Botaurus exilis (formerly placed in Ixobrychus)	Least bittern	File:Ixobrychus exilis map.svg southern Canada to northern Argentina
File:Black bittern .jpg	Botaurus flavicollis (formerly placed in Ixobrychus)	Black bittern	File:Dupetor flavicollis map.svg tropical Asia from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka east to China, Indonesia, and Australia
File:Watching (26153786575).jpg	Botaurus cinnamomeus (formerly placed in Ixobrychus)	Cinnamon bittern	File:Ixobrychus cinnamomeus map.svg tropical and subtropical Asia from India east to China and Indonesia
File:Schrenk's Bittern fem - Kang Kra Chan - Thailand S4E4834 (14235609026).jpg	Botaurus eurhythmus (formerly placed in Ixobrychus)	Von Schrenck's bittern	File:Ixobrychus eurhythmus map.svg Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Laos, China and Siberia
File:Dwarf bittern, Ixobrychus sturmii, at Harvey's Pans, Savuti in Chobe National Park, Botswana (31974132380).jpg	Botaurus sturmii (formerly placed in Ixobrychus)	Dwarf bittern	File:Ixobrychus sturmii map.svg Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Spain (the Canary Islands), Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
File:Ixobrychus minutus 3 (Marek Szczepanek).jpg	Botaurus minutus (formerly placed in Ixobrychus)	Little bittern	File:IxobrychusMinutusIUCNvr2018 2.png Africa, central and southern Europe, western and southern Asia, and Madagascar
File:YELLOW BITTERN.jpg	Botaurus sinensis (formerly placed in Ixobrychus)	Yellow bittern	File:Ixobrychus sinensis map.svg northern Indian Subcontinent, east to the Russian Far East, Japan and Indonesia.
File:Australian Little Bittern Sherwood Nov01.jpg	Botaurus dubius (formerly placed in Ixobrychus)	Black-backed bittern	File:Ixobrychus dubius map.svg Australia and southern New Guinea

References

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