great bird subfamily family subspecies northern race breeding parts europe asia northern coast africa southern race endemic parts southern africa secretive bird seldom seen open prefers reed beds thick vegetation near water bodies presence apparent spring male breeding season heard feeds fish small mammals fledgling birds amphibians crustaceans insects nest usually built edge bodies water female clutch eggs feeds young chicks leave nest weeks old continues care fully fledged weeks later specific habitat requirements general reduction wetlands range population thought decline globally decline slow assessed overall conservation status concern local populations risk population southern race declined dramatically cause concern united_kingdom threatened bird species taxonomy etymology species described swedish naturalist english naturalist coined genus distinguish great placed subfamily closest relatives american races recognised nominate subspecies distribution occurs broad europe north_africa asia subspecies occurs southern africa species found exact range known generic given english naturalist derived constructed middle english bird gave bull resembles bull species latin starred star refers plumage folk names local include variations themes barrel maker bull drum butter bump bitter drum boom bird bottle bump bull bull heather names bird described denote bird habitat description bright pale brown plumage covered dark streaks bars alternate suggests species largest males larger females great length wingspan body mass crown black individual feathers long loosely arranged tipped buff narrowly barred black sides head neck uniform buff irregularly barred black mantle similar colour heavily barred individual feathers having black centres barring head yellowish buff stripe brownish black stripe sides neck brown faint barring chin throat buff central feathers throat having longitudinal stripes brown breast belly yellowish buff broad stripes brown narrow stripes centre tail buff black streaks centre black near edge wings pale brown irregularly barred black plumage loose texture elongated feathers crown neck breast erected powerful bill greenish yellow darker tip upper eye yellow iris surrounded ring greenish bluish bare skin legs feet greenish yellow joint yellow feet juveniles similar plumage adults somewhat paler distinct markings distribution habitat breeding range extends temperate parts europe asia sweden finland eastwards eastern siberia japan bird northern extent occurrence eastern siberia southern limit mediterranean_sea black_sea iran afghanistan northern china small resident populations breed morocco algeria tunisia typically inhabits reed beds swamps lakes sluggish rivers fringed rank vegetation nests ponds agricultural areas near suitable habitat exists preference chooses large reed beds hectares acres breed populations stay areas year northerly populations usually migrate warmer regions birds remain birds northern europe tend south west southern europe northern central africa northern asian birds migrate parts arabian peninsula indian sub continent provinces eastern china outside breeding season restrictive habitat requirements living reed beds visits rice fields beds fish farms gravel pits sewage works ditches flooded areas marshes subspecies endemic southern africa found marshes near east coast foothills population behaviour usually solitary reed beds walking remaining body water prey occur shy bird disturbed points bill directly upwards position causing cryptic plumage blend surrounding action known position shield elongated feathers throat breast downwards hide neck outline head body obscured resorts applying powder produced patches specialist feathers breast white dusty material help rid head neck feeding removes excess powder vigorously applying oil base tail bird secretive nature keeping largely hidden coarse vegetation occasionally especially hard winter weather stands open water edge usually close cover facilitate hasty retreat flight wings seen broad rounded legs trail typical fashion neck extended takes retracted picked speed seldom flies feeding young preferring vegetation foot slow deliberate gripping time toes active dawn dusk day feed fish small mammals amphibians invertebrates hunting reed margins shallow water british records include fish mice small birds frogs crabs spiders insects continental europe members families beetle eaten bees vegetable matter aquatic plants consumed males mating females nest built previous year standing consists platform surrounded water roots close water built female bits reed grass lining finer fragments eggs average non glossy olive brown darker broader end eggs laid late march april female days hatching chicks spend weeks nest leaving swim female help male food nest crop young seizing bill pulling fully fledged weeks voice mating contact male deep fog horn bull like boom quick rise slightly longer fall easily distance calm night mainly given january april mating season surveys carried noting number distinct male given area prior modern science unknown small bird produced low pitched common explanations included bird straw blew directly water known sound produced air aid powerful muscles surrounding status wide range large total population estimated individuals assessed overall conservation status concern population trend downward rate decline insufficient justify rating threatened category chief threat bird faces destruction reed beds drainage disturbance wetland habitats species agreement conservation african migratory applies southern race suffered catastrophic decline 20th century wetland degradation unlike northern race high conservation concern united_kingdom main areas breeds lancashire estimated breeding pairs total lancashire population reserve declined recent decades attracted new reed beds ireland died breeding species mid-19th century single bird spotted number subsequent sightings 21st century regular winter visitors london wetland centre enabling city view scarce birds literature records held tables great proposed rational explanation creature graveyard darkness originating south slavic mythology mentioned short story brave pond 18th century scottish poet refers boom poem spring written published seasons knows time bill shake sounding marsh species mentioned narrative poem borough emphasise solitary life poem villain loud bull rush home gave salt ditch boom irish poet translated poem yellow irish friend poet wrote lament thomas opening line shall hear cry holmes novel sir villain proposes boom explanation attributed mystical secretive nature long unclear exactly produced distinctive theory held thrust ground marsh lived making deepened water reference theory appears wife bath tale lines mouth water english 17th century physician sir disputed claim stating book iii noise term putting bill reed believe conceive putting water mud retaining air suddenly excluding easily motion kept captive discover boom produced artist argued ill advised venture animal kingdom animals concealed combination coloration self shape effect plumage wrote watching standing american distance feet light stripes bill repeated continued light stripes sides head neck imitated closely look separate bright reed stems dark stripes pictured shadow stems markings wrote reed like patterns occur true beautiful european markings strong richly grass pattern pattern bold effect bird normal environment zoologist classic study camouflage animals cites account seeing marked place marsh birds reaching spot greatest difficulty finding bill erect stem wild
Eurasian bittern