Eurasian Bittern
Eurasian BitternEurasian BitternEurasian BitternEurasian Bittern

Eurasian Bittern

Botaurus stellaris

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Insufficient data
overall probability at Sierra de Guadarrama National Park
1 Verified records at Sierra de Guadarrama National Park
☀️ 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 →

Closest Relatives at Sierra de Guadarrama National Park

Grey Heron
LC

Grey Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea cinerea

20–30% · Possible
Little Egret
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

20–30% · Possible
Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

10–20% · With luck
Cattle Egret
LC

Cattle Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubulcus ibis

5–10% · With luck
Black-crowned Night Heron
LC

Black-crowned Night Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nycticorax nycticorax

<5% · Rare
Squacco Heron
LC

Squacco Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardeola ralloides

<5% · Rare
Purple Heron
LC

Purple Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea purpurea

<5% · Rare
Northern Bald Ibis
EN

Northern Bald Ibis

Bird

Geronticus eremita

<5% · Rare
Eurasian Spoonbill
LC

Eurasian Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea leucorodia

<5% · Rare
Glossy Ibis
LC

Glossy Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plegadis falcinellus

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Eurasian Bittern at Sierra de Guadarrama National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ 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
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