Least Bittern - Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Least Bittern was originally described in 1789 by J. F. Gmelin based on specimens from Jamaica.

Least Bittern forms a superspecies with Little Bittern and Yellow Bittern.

There are five widely recognised subspecies.

• exilis: in north and central America and the Caribbean
• pullus: in northwest Mexico
• erythromelas: in eastern Panama and around eastern coasts of South America south to Paraguay
• bogotensis: in Colombia
• peruvianus: in Peru

Birds from Ecuador are sometimes assigned to a sixth subspecies, limoncochae: North American birds were formerly divided into two subspecies, eastern exilis and western hesperis, but this is no longer believed to be a valid distinction.