American bittern

bird

Also known as: Botaurus lentiginosus, stake driver, thunder pumper(Show More)

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

The American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a large North American marsh bird related to herons. It has a brown body, dark gray outer wings, and a black stripe on each side of its neck. Bitterns, in general, are solitary marsh birds known for their camouflage patterns, which help them blend into their reedy habitats. They feed on fish, frogs, crayfish, and other small swamp animals. The male American bittern is known for its booming call, audible from a distance, especially in the spring.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

bittern
The American bittern (B. lentiginosus), known locally as “stake driver” or “thunder pumper,” is slightly smaller. Other forms are the Australian bittern (B. poiciloptilus) and the South American, or pinnated, bittern (B. pinnatus).
Read More
The American bittern (B. lentiginosus), known locally as “stake driver” or “thunder pumper,” is slightly smaller. Other forms are the Australian bittern (B. poiciloptilus) and the South American, or pinnated, bittern (B. pinnatus).
Read More