Dwarf bittern

Introduction: Dwarf bitterns (Ixobrychus sturmi) are named after the naturalist and bird artist Johan Sturm (1805-1862). They inhabit seasonally inundated floodplains with intermittent trees and bushes, flooded grassland and ephemeral pans.

Distribution: Widespread but scattered populations can be found in central and northerns ranges of the Namibia including Kunene River Mouth, Epupa Falls, Rundu, Caprivi, Etosha National Park and Kaudom Game Park.

Diet: Searches for food in the twilight of shallow water bodies for small frogs, water-bugs, fish, crabs, aquatic insects, crustaceans and spiders.

Description: Slender and smaller than the little bittern, but heavier.

Breeding: From 2 to 5 eggs are laid in January, February or March in a flimsy saucer-shaped nest, made in a tree.

Size: 25cm.

Weight: 140g.