Ixobrychus exilis

Information about the Least Bittern:

The Least Bittern is the smallest member of the Ardeidae (herons) family found in the Americas and one of the smallest in the world, measuring from 11 to 14 inches (28 to 36 cm) in length with a wingspan ranges from 16 to 18 inches (41 to 46 cm)The least bittern is an elusive bird spending a lot of time straddling reeds. When alarmed, the least bittern freezes in place with its bill pointing up, turns its front and both eyes toward the source of alarm, and sometimes sways to resemble wind-blown marsh vegetation. This is perhaps a predator-avoidance behavior, since its small size makes the bittern vulnerable to many potential predators. They mainly eat fish, frogs, crustaceans and insects, which they capture with quick jabs of their bill while climbing through marsh plants. The poster is printed on matte, museum-quality paper with Giclée printing quality: • Paper thickness: 10.3 mil • Paper weight: 5.6 oz/y² (192 g/m²) • Opacity: 94% Buy a Digital Download