Boat-billed Herons
Heron Information ... Heron Species
The Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius - colloquially known as the Boatbill - is an atypical member of the heron family, and was formerly thought to be in a monotypic (one single species) family, the Cochlearidae.
Distribution / Range
This nocturnal bird lives in mangrove swamps from Mexico south to Peru and Brazil.
Breeding / Nesting
It breeds semi-colonially in mangrove trees, laying 2-4 bluish white eggs in a twig nest.
Description
The Boatbill is about 54 cm long. The adult has a black crown, long crest and upper back.The face, throat and breast are white, and the lower underparts are rufous with black flanks. The wings and lower back are pale grey.
The massive broad scoop-like bill, which gives rise to this species' name, is mainly black.
Immature birds have mainly brown upperparts and brown-tinged whitish underparts, and lack the crest.
Diet / Feeding
This species feeds on fish, crustaceans and insects.
Calls / Vocalization
Its calls include a deep croak and a high-pitched pee-pee-pee.
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org
Relevant Web Resources: Boat-billed heron (Photo & Distribution in Suriname)
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