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Doug J | all galleries >> Galleries >> Birds of Florida > Least Bittern
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02-APR-2017

Least Bittern

Sarasota, Florida

Scientific name: Passerculus sandwichensis

The least bittern is one of the smallest herons in the world. This is an elusive bird. They spend much 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.

Thanks to its habit of perching among the reeds, the least bittern can feed from the surface of water that would be too deep for the wading strategy of other herons. They mainly eat fish, frogs, crustaceans and insects, which they capture with quick jabs of their bill while climbing through marsh plants.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least_bittern" >Click for more information on this species at Wikipedia
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Canon EOS-1D Mark III ,Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
1/750s f/9.5 at 560.0mm iso400 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time02-Apr-2017 09:17:02
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS-1D Mark III
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length560 mm
Exposure Time1/769 sec
Aperturef/9.5
ISO Equivalent400
Exposure Bias0.50
White Balance
Metering Mode
JPEG Quality
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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