Boat Billed Heron

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Boat Billed Heron
Latin: Cochlearius cochlearius
Other: Garça-real (Br) • Garcilla peinada (Es)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: South America - Panama to Brazil
Similar: Black-crowned Night Heron, Striated Heron

It’s unusual to see the Boat-billed Heron during the day, but night drives with a torch along waterways will usually produce several. They look rather strange (see further below) at night with their very broad bills.

The Boat-billed Heron pictured above was seen beside the Rio Claro, on an excursion from Rio Clarinho. Trips down the river from Rio Clarinho were a very good way to take in the beautiful scenery and see Agami Heron and Giant Otter because they don’t use engines (unlike Rio Claro Lodge) but punt instead.

During the day Boat-billed Herons look like they’re smiling. Generally unmistakeable by their very wide bills and buffy colouring - the most similar herons otherwise would probably be Black-crowned Night Heron or Striated Heron.


Below: Boat-billed Heron on the Rio Claro, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011



Below: Boat-billed Heron on a night drive from Curicaca Lodge, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011