American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is in the Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns family (Ardeidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 8,996 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: spring and fall migrant. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph American Bittern: observations by month (U.S.)
About American Bittern
The American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a species of wading bird in the heron family of the Pelican order of bird. It has a Nearctic distribution, breeding in Canada and the northern and central parts of the United States, and wintering in the U.S. Gulf Coast states, all of Florida into the Everglades, the Caribbean islands and parts of Central America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American Bittern by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,545 | October | Sep–Jul |
| Florida | 1,378 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Texas | 1,279 | March | Oct–Apr |
| Oregon | 440 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Washington | 432 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Vermont | 300 | May | May–May |
| New York | 271 | April | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 196 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Maryland | 186 | April | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 171 | January | Dec–Apr |
| North Carolina | 169 | February | Oct–Apr |
| New Jersey | 164 | October | Sep–Dec |
| Virginia | 160 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Ohio | 152 | April | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 152 | April | Apr–May |
| Massachusetts | 146 | April | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 142 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 141 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Georgia | 138 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Michigan | 136 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Louisiana | 95 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Maine | 92 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Arizona | 84 | January | Jan–Apr |
| Colorado | 84 | May | May–Jul |
| Kansas | 79 | April | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 73 | April | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 69 | June | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 63 | November | Oct–Nov |
| New Hampshire | 60 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Tennessee | 54 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 53 | April | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 51 | January | Oct–Apr |
| South Dakota | 45 | May | May–May |
| Mississippi | 44 | January | Jan–Jan |
| New Mexico | 42 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Idaho | 39 | May | May–Aug |
| Nebraska | 38 | May | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 37 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Utah | 36 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Indiana | 32 | April | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 25 | February | Nov–Feb |
| District of Columbia | 23 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Iowa | 17 | April | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 13 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Montana | 13 | May | May–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 12 | May | Mar–May |
| West Virginia | 11 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Kentucky | 8 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Wyoming | 6 | July | Jun–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Bittern?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from October to May.
Where is American Bittern most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Florida, Texas.