The first word that comes to mind when I think of bitterns is "shy." Although I have seen all three species of bitterns found in Bangladesh, it has never been easy. They hide inside foliage, camouflage exceedingly well and fly away quickly when I approached. Bitterns belong to the heron family Ardeidae. Around the world there are fifteen species of bitterns divided into two genera. The genus Botaurus contains larger bitterns such as the American Bittern made immortal by John James Audobon's painting. The genus Ixobrychus contains the smaller bitterns. (A third genus, Zebrilus, has only the Zi...