Photo: Cephas / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Boat-billed Heron
Cochlearius cochlearius
Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 643 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
- Genus Cochlearius
- Species cochlearius
Where it lives
West-central Mexico to northeastern Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 643 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Boat-billed Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Boat-billed Heron is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) belongs to the Ardeidae family of the order Pelecaniformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA wc Mexico to ne Argentina.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 643 g, with a wing length of about 26.5 cm and a tail of around 11.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 11.7 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Boat-billed Heron?
The Boat-billed Heron is a large bird that weighs around 643 g.
Where does the Boat-billed Heron live?
The Boat-billed Heron is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA wc Mexico to ne Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Boat-billed Heron belong to?
The Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Boat-billed Heron eat?
The Boat-billed Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Boat-billed Heron migrate?
The Boat-billed Heron is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Boat-billed Heron endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Boat-billed Heron make?
1 real field recording of the Boat-billed Heron — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Boat-billed Heron's range?
The Boat-billed Heron has a mapped global range of about 11.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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