The black bittern (Ixobrychus flavicollis) is found in the Indian Subcontinent, China, Southeast Asia, Australia and Indonesia. The short legs and long, narrow toes are consistent with a bird that does a lot of walking over large lily pads and marshy land, as well as perches on cattails and in trees. It is sometimes called the Yellow-necked Bittern because it has a yellow patch on the sides of the neck. Juveniles are more brown than black.
