Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

Order: Pelecaniformes | Family: Ardeidae  | IUCN Status: Least Concern

boat-billed_heron
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Loreto, Peru

boat-billed_heron
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Loreto, Peru

boat-billed_heron
Age: Adult, Breeding| Sex: Unknown | Loc. Loreto, Peru

boat-billed_heron
Age: Juvenile | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Ecuador (L), Brazil (R)

Identification & Behavior: ~51 cm (20.1 in). The Boat-billed Heron is mostly light bluish gray, with a chestnut belly with dark flanks.  Adult birds have a black cap with a white forehead and black band on the upper back. Juveniles are brown with a pale belly. It is similar to Black-crowned Night-Heron, but it is distinguished from this species by the massive bill, white forehead, bluish-gray back and chestnut belly. The Boat-billed Heron is nocturnal and forages along edges of rivers, creeks, and swamps.

Status: The Boat-billed Heron is generally rare in the Amazonian Lowlands. It is active at night and remains in roosting colonies during the day, hence can be easily overlooked. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Garza Cucharón o Huapapa.

Sub-species: Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius cochlearius) Linnaeus, 1766.

Meaning of Name: Cochlearius: L. cochlearius, cochearium= spoon. In reference to this bird’s bill shape.

See more of the Family Ardeidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
boat-billed heronVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 01/01/2015.