118. American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)

American Bitterns are seen as vagrants very occasionally in western Europe, and are widespread across their home range of North America, breeding in Canada and northern USA, and wintering in the southern USA and central America. They have similar habits to the Eurasian Bittern, although can be less secretive and have less of a preference for reedbeds - they like marshes, bogs and wet meadows. American Bitterns are slightly smaller too, with more uniform upperparts and a more heavily striped foreneck.

American Bittern, ©Mathesont, via Flickr Creative Commons.

American Bittern sketch.

Proportions went a bit haywire here towards the rear end and it's altogether a bit on the chunky side!