American Bittern vs Boat-billed Heron
Botaurus lentiginosus compared with Cochlearius cochlearius
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Bittern | Boat-billed Heron |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Botaurus lentiginosus | Cochlearius cochlearius |
| Order | Pelecaniformes | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae | Ardeidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 54.2 cm (21.3 in) | 52.9 cm (20.8 in) |
| Weight | 734.75 g (25.92 oz) | 644.0 g (22.72 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-7 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
American Bittern only
Boat-billed Heron only
Conservation Status
American Bittern
Boat-billed Heron
About These Birds
American Bittern
The American Bittern is a large heron weighing about 735 g with a 54.2 cm wingspan, inhabiting freshwater marshes and reed beds across North America. When threatened, it freezes with bill pointed skyward, its streaked brown plumage blending remarkably with marsh vegetation.
Boat-billed Heron
The Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) is one of the most morphologically distinctive members of the family Ardeidae, so unusual in appearance that it was formerly placed in its own monotypic family, Cochleariidae. The feature that immediately sets this species apart is its extraordinarily broad, flat, scoop-shaped bill, which is wider than it is long and resembles an upturned boat hull — a structure unlike any other heron bill. Adults have a black cap and crest, pale gray to white breast …