Botaurus pinnatus
We saw this large and elegant Bittern really close up in the reeds just outside our southern gate at Reserva Don Luis in February 2015.
This completes seeing the trio of bitterns that can be found in Argentina.
This is the largest and measures 55cm. It has a white chin, varegated streaking on the underparts (neck and breast) and barring on the nape and dorsal part of the neck. It has a streaked back in shades of black and cinnamon and a pale greenish/white iris.
It is sometimes confused with a juvenile Rufescent Tiger Heron, but the Bittern has a streaked back rather than barred.
