Least Bittern

A Least Bittern clings to green reeds with its buff neck stretched and its dagger bill pointed into the light. The Least Bittern is North America's smallest heron and one of its most secretive. It usually hides deep in cattails, and in Phoenix it turns up in the reedy edges of desert-city wetlands. It freezes when watched, so a clear, open look like this one is a rare reward for patient marsh-watchers. The warm buff, chestnut and black plumage glows against the soft greens of the reed bed.