2015 Bonanza Bird #23: Boat-billed Heron

December 23, 2015 in Birdorable Bonanza 2015, Herons and New Birds with 8 comments

Boat-billed Herons are medium-sized herons found in parts of Central and South America. They live in mangrove forests and feed on a wide variety of food items, including tidal fare like shrimp, insects, and fish.

The Boat-billed Heron is named for its large and wide scoop-like bill. The top of the bill resembles the underside of a boat. The species is also known simply as the Boatbill.

Boat-billed Herons are known for their courtship rituals. Pair-bonding displays include mock fighting, head crest raising and lowering, and bill duels.

Photo by Amir Matityahu (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

Photo by Bernard DUPONT (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Tomorrow's bird is a wildly plumaged chicken-sized bird endemic to Borneo. Males have bright blue facial wattles. Can you guess what it is?

Cute Boat-billed Heron Gifts

From Amazon

Cute Cartoon Heron | Boat-billed Heron by Birdorable T-Shirt

Comments

ƲσƖcαяσηα ウルガモス (White-throated Sparrow) on December 23, 2015 at 6:10 PM wrote:

Nicee, missed last bird o3o Bornean Crested Fireback?

Louise Warner on February 25, 2017 at 9:32 AM wrote:

tomorrow's bird will be a owl?

Louise Warner on February 27, 2017 at 7:33 AM wrote:

something pheasant?

Louise Warner on February 27, 2017 at 7:34 AM wrote:

bulwer's pheasant?

Louise Warner on March 17, 2017 at 10:16 AM wrote:

yeah, I'm still thinking it's a bulwer's pheasant!

Harpy Eagle on July 3, 2017 at 4:38 AM wrote:

Boaty looks a bit like Black-crowned night heron

Spurwing Plover on May 21, 2022 at 7:20 AM wrote:

He dont let his beak other him they call him Big Bill he ignores the Insults

sabine's gull on September 7, 2024 at 4:53 AM wrote:

definitely a bulwer's pheasant

Comments with links or HTML will be deleted. Your comment will be published pending approval.

Your name (required)

Your email address (required)

Your email address will not be published

Comment (required)

I agree to receive updates and news from Birdorable

You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information on how to unsubscribe, our privacy practices, and how we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy. By clicking submit below, you consent to allow Birdorable to store and process the personal information submitted above to provide you the content requested.

Some Gull Humor

February 7, 2015

This week, we're celebrating the gulls of the world! Today we're wrapping up the week with a little bit of gull humor! What do you call a gull when it flies over a bay? A bagel! (bay-gull)

Truth or Tale? The Egyptian Plover and the Myth of the Crocodile Bird

February 1, 2013

The Egyptian Plover is a beautiful species of wader that lives in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the common name, their present range does not extend to any part of Egypt. The bird is sometimes known by another name: Crocodile Bird. During his travels to Egypt in 459...

Amazing Bird Behavior: Sydney’s Clever Cockatoos Master Public Water Fountains

June 19, 2025

A recent study published in the journal Biology Letters documents how Sulphur‑crested Cockatoos in western Sydney, Australia, have developed a novel behavior: operating twist-handle public drinking fountains (“bubblers”) by gripping and turning the valve with their feet to access water. Researchers observed this behavior in an area that...

2019 Bonanza Bird #1: Yellow-billed Cuckoo

December 3, 2019

It's Bonanza time again here at Birdorable! Today we're kicking off our 11th annual Birdorable Bonanza! For the next 10 days, we'll reveal a new Birdorable bird. Today we introduce a new species of cuckoo to Birdorable: the Yellow-billed Cuckoo! Yellow-billed...

Birdorable Blog