The boat-billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) is a wading bird in the heron family, Ardeidae. It is found in freshwater habitats in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, from Mexico south to northern Argentina. The boat-billed heron is a medium-sized bird, with a height of 5661 cm (2224 in) and a wingspan of 100122 cm (3948 in). It has a long, pointed beak, which is black with a yellow tip. The plumage of the boat-billed heron is mainly black, with white markings on the head, neck, and breast. The legs are long and black, and the toes are partially webbed.
The boat-billed heron is a piscivorous bird, and its diet consists mainly of fish. It also eats other aquatic animals, such as frogs, snakes, and insects. The boat-billed heron is a solitary bird, and it typically forages in shallow water. It uses its long beak to probe the water for prey, and it will also snatch prey from the surface of the water. The boat-billed heron is a territorial bird, and it will defend its territory from other herons. It will also attack other birds that come too close to its nest.
