Order:
Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Ixobrichus minutus
Little Bittern / Avetorillo común
Maximum size: 35 cm
Habitat
They live in marshes, lagoons, pools, ponds, estuaries, wetlands, dams,
rivers, in fresh water or salty-water areas with vegetation they use for
hiding from predators as well as for catching their prey. They breed in
the crumps in wetlands.
They can be seen in the Marismas del Guadalquivir, lagoons in Fuente
de Piedra (Málaga), the Ebro estuary, Albufera de Mallorca and Valencia,
Tablas de Daimiel, Navarra and Galicia.
They remain in Doñana all through the year, but more so in spring
and summer. They prefer inland lagoons with marshes and vegetation.
They are included in the Red List of the Vertebrates of Andalusia and
their conservation status is Vulnerable of Extinction.