English             -               Boat-billed Heron

Portuguese     -                Arapapá

Latin                -                Cochlearius cochlearius

I think the Boat billed Heron is one of the strangest birds I’ve photographed. Normally quite a shy bird, the Boat-billed Heron is mainly a nocturnal species. In saying that I photographed  the Boat-billed Heron (photo No. 1) during the day when I was staying at REGUA. (Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu) It was viewed from inside the hide that is situated on the Wetlands trail (yellow trail) at the reserve. it was quite along way away and I have cropped the photo quite a bit. The second photo of the Boat-billed Heron was taken at Passo do Lonta in the Pantanal. It was taken when I was doing a night cruise up the Miranda River in search of the elusive Jaguar.  Didn’t find the Jaguar but the guide found the Boat-billed Heron amongst the bushes on the river side. It was quite hard to photograph as it was pitch black and only had torch light as a light source. Had to boost up the cameras ISO for this photo.

*  The Boat-billed Heron gets its name because of its broad bill, which is shaped like an overturned row boat. 

* It is also known simply as the boatbill.

* The Boat-billed Heron is a stocky looking bird with a length of 53 cm, weighs about 600 gr. and has a wingspan of 76 cm.

* Both sexes are very similar in appearance.

* The Boat-billed Heron utters a low, accelerating clucking “cu-cu-cu-cu-kah” type sound. (actual recording taken at REGUA)

* It ranges from Mexico, south to Bolivia and Northern Argentina.

* The Boat-billed Heron uses wooded or mangrove fringes of fresh water creeks, rivers, lakes and marshes with thick bushes or trees overhanging water, which it requires for daytime roosting and nesting. It is a low land species, occurring to 650 m above sea level.

* It is mainly an nocturnal species and feeds at night.

* The Boat-billed Heron mainly feed on fish, crustaceans, insects and small amphibians.

* The female lays two to four bluish white eggs which are incubated for 25-27 days by both parents. Nestlings fledge after 6 to 8 weeks.

* The Boat-billed Heron does have some natural predators such as foxes and snakes as well as humans (not so natural) but The Boat-billed Heron is fairly common in its range and with a stable population it is classified as a species ”of least concern”.