Boat-billed Heron

Cochlearius cochlearius

The Birds of the World website introduces the Boat-billed Heron with this descriptive information:  Superficially resembling night-herons in the genus Nycticorax, the Boat-billed Heron differs in its extremely wide, flat bill whose maxilla looks like the upturned keel of a boat, giving this species its common name. The only member of the genus Cochlearius, the Boat-billed Heron used to be in its own family before being grouped back into the family Ardeidae with the other herons. A crepuscular species, it uses its unique bill to hunt amphibians, small fish, crustaceans, insects, and small vertebrates, while wading through shallow water. The courtship display of this species is quite ritualized and includes carefully coordinated bill-touching and false fighting. It has been known to nest individually or in mixed species colonies of other herons and ibises. Unlike other species of herons, the Boat-billed Heron is very aggressive when defending its nest and young against potential predators, scaring away other species of birds, and vocalizing loudly, even lunging, at approaching humans.

I met my first Boat-billed Heron on Friday afternoon, August 25, 2023.  Our Jeff Parker Tour group was staying at Southwild’s Jaguar Flotel and on this afternoon we were on a boat excursion exploring neary waterways when I spotted this bird in flight and managed to take some decent photographs.  Later, on another boat ride, I got some more photos of this bird, which I will also post below.  For details of my Brazilian trip that include the sighting of this bird, look here.  Below are a couple of my photos of this unusual Heron.

The very next day (August 26, 2023) we were cruising in the Black Channel and we came across a Boat-billed Heron who was perched at the edge of the water.  Here is my best shot from that encounter.