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BOAT-BILLED HERON – Pura Vida Birds and Birding

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Jim Gain

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@ Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary – Spanish Creek, Belize District, Belize

Birds & Birding in Costa Rica: – Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded in Costa Rica, there is certainly lots to enjoy! With 12 of the world’s 18 life zones, its diverse landscapes, including tropical rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, and savannas, provide habitat for a wide range of iconic birds A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

BIRDS & BIRDING IN COSTA RICA WEBSITE LINK

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

FASCIATED TIGER-HERON – (Species Account Blog #81)

TAXONOMIC TREE:  

  • ORDER: Pelecaniformes,
  • FAMILY: Ardeidae,
  • BINOMIAL NAME: Cochlearius cochlearius

The Boat-billed Heron is a bizarre nocturnal heron of mangroves and freshwater marshes in tropical lowlands; spends the daytime roosting in trees, often in loose groups. Comes out at night to feed along the edge of lakes and rivers. Easily identified by huge ‘boat bill’ and big brown eyes. Adult has black crown, pinkish breast, and silvery gray back; immature pattern similar, but plumage duller and browner overall. (from Birds of the World)

SIMILAR SPECIES

The Boat-billed Heron is identified by its broad, thick bill, its moderate size, black cap, white forehead and cheeks, and grey back and wings. It cannot be confused with any other bird.

Boat-billed Heron (left) vs Black-crowned Night Heron (right)

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION

Boat-billed Heron Distribution Map (from Birds of the World)

PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES

In Costa Rica we observed two Boat-billed Herons. One near the Arenal Observatory and one along the Tárcoles River..

PHOTO GALLERY

**Some of these Photo Gallery images (all taken by me) have been taken in other nearby countries.

@ Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary – Spanish Creek, Belize District, Belize
@ Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary – Spanish Creek, Belize District, Belize
@ Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary – Spanish Creek, Belize District, Belize

RECENT BLOG POSTS

View the five most recent Birds & Birding in Costa Rica series blog posts below.

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ABOUT THE SITE

With a primary focus on birds, each blog series has it’s own unique look at the wildlife and wild places encountered at different locations that I have visited around the world.

ABOUT ME

I earned my college degree in biology, a foundation that shaped not only how I see the world, but how I’ve spent my life sharing it with others. For more than 40 years, I taught and led in public education, helping students discover the wonder woven into every corner of the natural world. That same drive has carried me through decades of citizen science and conservation work. As an active member of the Modesto Camera Club, I’ve developed a photographic practice that blends natural history with visual artistry, and my award‑winning images have been featured across the Internet on dozens of sites and field‑oriented platforms. This blog brings together my passions for birding, conservation, and storytelling.

~ Jim Gain

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