Least Bittern
Merced County California
20 April 2003

This audio is taken from videotape recorded 1/4 mile west of 24631 Henry Miller Road (east of Santa Nella). The Least Bittern was recorded at approximately 8 am on Easter Sunday. On the recording the bird can be heard calling four separate times (between the vociferous Marsh Wrens and lowing cattle).

Henry Miller Road can be quite busy with traffic but there is just enough room to pull off the pavement here. The bird was on the south side of the road just out of sight in the roadside cattails.

This louder version is of just one call. The Least Bittern is the first "coo-coo-coo-coo".