Pinnated Bittern - Taxonomy and Systematics

Taxonomy and Systematics

German naturalist Johann Georg Wagler, who first described the Pinnated Bittern in 1829, placed it in the genus Ardea at that time. It is sometimes included in a superspecies with the American Bittern (B. lentiginosus), while other authors consider the entire genus Botaurus to consist of a single superspecies.

There are currently two recognized subspecies, which are separated by a gap in Central America:

• Botaurus pinnatus caribaeus – Eastern Mexico, Belize and (rarely) Guatemala.

On average longer bill, shorter wings and tail, paler, less streaking on throat.

• Botaurus pinnatus pinnatus – southeastern Nicaragua to Ecuador and the Guianas, south through Brazil to Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.

On average shorter bill, longer wings and tail, darker, more streaking on throat.