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Scientific
Name: Cochlearius cochlearius |
| Geographical
Range: South and Central America |
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| Habitat:
Near freshwater, such as creeks, lakes and marshes. It nests
in the daylight in bushes or trees above the water. |
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| Diet
in the Wild: Insects, shrimps, fish, amphibians, and small mammals. |
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| Conservation
Status: Not protected. |
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| Location
in the Zoo: In the bird pagoda with the
yellow-billed stork. |
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| Physical
Description: Sturdy, medium-sized (18-20 in) bird with large eyes that protrude out from the face. Colors range from usually black & white with an occasional buff heron. The boat-billed heron has black heads and black upper backs with large black bills. The black plumes are quite lavish during mating season. |
Social
Organization:
How the Boat-billed Heron communicates with other birds is quite different from the way in which the regular herons do. Most Boat-billed Herons communicate through vocal and mechanical sounds such as bill-pops that sound like human handclaps.This is different from the visual gesturing that other herons do.Also, it mainly eats alone by flying from the common roost to individual feeding areas.Once in a while, it will feed in groups. |
| Special
Adaptations: Their boat-like beak makes it possible to waddle through water and stab their prey with their beaks, or scoop of shrimp and other mud-dwelling prey. |
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| Reproductive
Behavior: Breeding time fluctuates, but usually occurs in the rainy season. The color of the eggs is light blue to green, sometimes with spotting. Clutch size ranges from one to four eggs. The eggs take 26 days to hatch. The babies are first fed at night only. Untypically, the boat-billed herons are protective parents against intruders. |
Tidbits: There is a debate as to whether it belongs in the family Ardeidae or should have a new family name of its own. |
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Page
Author: Sources and Links: Elbert Greer Brad Hazelton, Fort Worth Zoo. J.H. Ribot |
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