Two species of the small bitterns Ixobrychus have been recorded from Australia,
the Little Bittern I. minutus and the Yellow Bittern I. sinensis. Although considered by
Condon (1975) to be rare in Australia, the Little Bittern is the species that can be
expected to be encountered in most instances. The Yellow Bittern, found through India,
China, and Southeast Asia, has only been recorded in Australia once, from Kalgoorlie,
Western Australia. in 1968. It has, however, been recently reported from Port Moresby,
Papua New Guinea (Hansen, 1976). Problems occasionally arise in the identification of
specimens of the small bitterns and, if based solely on plumage, misidentification, even
of birds in the hand, can occur.
