Smith’s Bible Dictionary

Bittern

The word occurs in (Isaiah 14:23; 34:11; Zephaniah 2:14) and we are inclined to believe that the Authorized Version is correct. The bittern (Botaurus stellaris) belongs to the Ardeidae , the heron family of birds, and is famous for the peculiar nocturnal booming sound which it emits.

Smith’s Bible Dictionary, William Smith (1863). Public domain, from the CrossWire SWORD module.