Home › Aves › Ardeidae › Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)
SPECIES PROFILE
Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)
Ixobrychus
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Marshy wetlands rice fields dense reeds
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Ciconiiformes
FAMILY
Ardeidae
GENUS
Ixobrychus
📋 Description
SIZE
38-41 cm long 80-130 g
COLORATION
Cinnamon-brown with paler underparts
ADAPTATIONS
Short neck and stealthy posture for reedbed hunting
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Marshy wetlands rice fields dense reeds
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
REPRODUCTION
Lays 3-6 eggs in reed nests incubated 16-20 days
DIET DETAILS
Fish insects crustaceans small reptiles
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss agricultural intensification
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Reedbed Phantoms: Cinnamon Bitterns blend into reeds with their 100-gram bodies stalking 50 grams of fish daily in Chilika's marshes. Their elusive nature makes them hard to spot.
2
Secretive Breeders: These bitterns nest low in Bharatpur's dense reeds covering 5000 sq km. Wetland drainage threatens their cryptic lifestyle.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Chilika Lake in Odisha brackish wetlands host cinnamon bittern sightings
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan marshes offer cinnamon bittern sightings
Sundarbans National Park in West Bengal mangroves have cinnamon bittern sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
October-March Dry season enhances visibility in wetlands for spotting bitterns
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Search dense reedbeds at dawn for cinnamon bitterns standing motionless
