Botaurus is a genus of bitterns, a group of wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae. The genus name Botaurus was given by the English naturalist James Francis Stephens, and is derived from Medieval Latinbutaurus, "bittern", itself constructed from the Middle English name for the Eurasian Bittern, Botor.[1]Pliny gave a fanciful derivation from Bos (ox) and taurus (bull), because the bittern's call resembles the bellowing of a bull.[2]
The genus has a single representative species in each of North, Central and South America, Eurasia, and Australasia. The two northern species are partially migratory, with many birds moving south to warmer areas in winter.
The four Botaurus bitterns are all large chunky, heavily streaked brown birds which breed in large reed beds. Almost uniquely for predatory birds, the female rears the young alone.[3] They are secretive and well-camouflaged, and despite their size they can be difficult to observe except for occasional flight views.
Like other bitterns, they eat fish, frogs, and similar aquatic life.
Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Ouvea.
Extinct speciesedit
† Botaurus hibbardi
Referencesedit
^Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 75, 365. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^"Bittern (1)". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 16 May 2016.(subscription required)
^Sibly, Richard M.; Christopher C. Witt; Natalie A. Wright; Chris Venditti; Walter Jetz; James H. Brown (2012). "Energetics, lifestyle, and reproduction in birds". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 109 (27): 10937–10941. doi:10.1073/pnas.1206512109. PMC3390878. PMID 22615391.
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botaurus, genus, bitterns, group, wading, bird, heron, family, ardeidae, genus, name, given, english, naturalist, james, francis, stephens, derived, from, medieval, latin, butaurus, bittern, itself, constructed, from, middle, english, name, eurasian, bittern, . Botaurus is a genus of bitterns a group of wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae The genus name Botaurus was given by the English naturalist James Francis Stephens and is derived from Medieval Latin butaurus bittern itself constructed from the Middle English name for the Eurasian Bittern Botor 1 Pliny gave a fanciful derivation from Bos ox and taurus bull because the bittern s call resembles the bellowing of a bull 2 Botaurus American bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Pelecaniformes Family Ardeidae Subfamily Botaurinae Genus BotaurusStephens 1819 Type species Ardea stellarisLinnaeus 1758 Species See text The genus has a single representative species in each of North Central and South America Eurasia and Australasia The two northern species are partially migratory with many birds moving south to warmer areas in winter The four Botaurus bitterns are all large chunky heavily streaked brown birds which breed in large reed beds Almost uniquely for predatory birds the female rears the young alone 3 They are secretive and well camouflaged and despite their size they can be difficult to observe except for occasional flight views Like other bitterns they eat fish frogs and similar aquatic life Species editImage Scientific name Common Name Distribution nbsp Botaurus lentiginosus American bittern the U S Gulf Coast states all of Florida into the Everglades the Caribbean islands and parts of Central America nbsp Botaurus stellaris Eurasian bittern Europe and Asia from the British Isles Sweden and Finland eastwards to Sakhalin Island in eastern Siberia and Hokkaido Island in Japan nbsp Botaurus pinnatus Pinnated bittern or South American bittern Mexico to northern Argentina though there are few records for Guatemala and Honduras nbsp Botaurus poiciloptilus Australasian bittern Australia Tasmania New Zealand New Caledonia and Ouvea Extinct species edit Botaurus hibbardiReferences edit Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm pp 75 365 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Bittern 1 Oxford English Dictionary Oxford University Press Retrieved 16 May 2016 subscription required Sibly Richard M Christopher C Witt Natalie A Wright Chris Venditti Walter Jetz James H Brown 2012 Energetics lifestyle and reproduction in birds Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 109 27 10937 10941 doi 10 1073 pnas 1206512109 PMC 3390878 PMID 22615391 nbsp This Pelecaniformes related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Botaurus amp oldid 1193072178, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
