American bittern

Anne did another great job of spotting birds from the pontoon today.
Among others we had sora, Wilson's snipe and this American bittern.

Botaurus lentiginosus

The American Bittern's yellow eyes can focus downward, giving the bird's face a comically startled, cross-eyed appearance. This visual orientation presumably enhances the bird's ability to spot and capture prey. The eyes turn orange during breeding season.

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