AUTRALIAN LITTLE BITTERN

Photographed at North Lakes, Queensland, September 2015

 650            AUSTRALIAN LITTLE BITTERN           Lxobrychus dubius

Australia         (492)

Also known as the Black-backed Bittern or the Black-backed Least Bittern. One of the smallest herons in the world, it is 25-36 cm. Ranges mainly in the south-east of the mainland with patches along the east coast and in south-west WA. Mainly found in freshwater wetlands in vegetation of reeds and sedges, and inundated shrub thickets; occasionally in brackish and saline wetlands, such as mangrove swamps.