About the Australasian Bittern
The Australasian bittern, or Matuku-hūrepo in Māori, is a stocky, sizeable and elusive heron-like bird native to the wetlands of Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. It belongs to the bittern subfamily of the heron family Ardeidae. The Australasian bittern is best known for its cryptic plumage and behaviours, which allows it to blend into the rushes and reeds of its wetland habitats, making it particularly difficult to spot. Despite being rarely seen, Australasian bittern males have a distinct "booming" call that can carry long distances. This call is said to resemble that of a Bunyip, which is why the Australasian bittern is often known as "the Bunyip Bird" in parts of Australia.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (Ardeidae) |
| Species | Botaurus poiciloptilus |
| Species Codes | ausbit1, AUBI |
| Conservation | EN Endangered |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Australasian Bittern belong to?
The Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) belongs to the Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns family (Ardeidae), in the order Pelecaniformes.
What is the conservation status of the Australasian Bittern?
The Australasian Bittern is classified as "Endangered" (EN) by IUCN Red List.
How can I identify the Australasian Bittern?
The Australasian bittern, or Matuku-hūrepo in Māori, is a stocky, sizeable and elusive heron-like bird native to the wetlands of Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. It belongs to the bittern subfamily of the heron family Ardeidae. The Australasian bittern is best known for its cryptic plumage...
Where can I report a Australasian Bittern sighting?
You can log sightings of Australasian Bittern on eBird (ebird.org) using species code ausbit1, or on iNaturalist.