Thursday, 15 January 2026

Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

OTHER NAMES: Boatbill
Latin Etymology: Cochlearius (a snail shaped spoon) cochlearius (a snail shaped spoon)

Juvenile Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) at Alajuela, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Cochlearius cochlearius panamensis
Weight: 500-770g  /  Length: 54cm  /  Wingspan: 76cm
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Least Concern

This bizarre looking heron is unique in that it is the only heron that attacks with a scooping motion rather than the typical spearing one. They are found around swamps, marshes and ponds with dense foliage around, and then hunt nocturnally thanks to their large eyes. Their range consists of Central America and most of Brazil on into it's neighbouring countries
 
Related Species: 
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Cochlearius
SUBSPECIES: C. c. zeledoni, C. c. phillipsi, C. c. ridgwayi, C. c. panamensis, C. c. cochlearius
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Pico Cuchara ("Spoonbeak")

Widespread resident of lowlands where appropraite habitat is found
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Alajuela

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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