Eurasian Bittern
Eurasian BitternEurasian BitternEurasian BitternEurasian Bittern

Eurasian Bittern

Botaurus stellaris

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Hortobágy National Park
72 Verified records at Hortobágy National Park
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The Eurasian bittern or great bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is a wading bird in the bittern subfamily (Botaurinae) of the heron family Ardeidae. There are two subspecies, the northern race (B. s. stellaris) breeding in parts of Europe and across the Palearctic, as well as on the northern coast of Africa, while the southern race (B. s. capensis) is endemic to parts of southern Africa. It is a secretive bird, seldom seen in the open as it prefers to skulk in reed beds and thick vegetation near water bodies. Its presence is apparent in the spring, when the booming call of the male during the breeding season can be heard. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Bittern sighting in Hortobágy National Park, based on 72 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Hortobágy National Park

Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

80–90% · Very likely
Grey Heron
LC

Grey Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea cinerea

70–80% · Very likely
Little Egret
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

40–50% · Likely
Purple Heron
LC

Purple Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea purpurea

30–40% · Possible
Squacco Heron
LC

Squacco Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardeola ralloides

30–40% · Possible
Black-crowned Night Heron
LC

Black-crowned Night Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nycticorax nycticorax

20–30% · Possible
Cattle Egret
LC

Cattle Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubulcus ibis

20–30% · Possible
Eurasian Spoonbill
LC

Eurasian Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea leucorodia

50–60% · Likely
Glossy Ibis
LC

Glossy Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plegadis falcinellus

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
5–10
Feb
20–30
Mar
20–30
Apr
20–30
May
5–10
Jun
10–20
Jul
<5
Aug
10–20
Sep
<5
Oct
10–20
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
20–30%
2 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
10–20%
3 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
5–10%
4 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
5–10%
5 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
5–10%
6 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
7 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
8 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
9 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data
10 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data
11 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
Insufficient data
12 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Insufficient data
13 Taroko National Park 🇹🇼 Taiwan
Insufficient data
14 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Eurasian Bittern in Hortobágy National Park?

About 14% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Bittern sighting in Hortobágy National Park, based on 72 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Eurasian Bittern in Hortobágy National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Eurasian Bittern in Hortobágy National Park in our monthly data.

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