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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Boat-billed Heron	Forest Bittern
Scientific Name	Cochlearius cochlearius	Zonerodius heliosylus
Order	Pelecaniformes	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae	Ardeidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Near Threatened
Length	—	—
Wingspan	52.9 cm (20.8 in)	60.6 cm (23.9 in)
Weight	644.0 g (22.72 oz)	802.0 g (28.29 oz)
Diet	--	--
Clutch Size	1-4	--
Population Trend	—	—

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

🌲 Forest 🌿 Wetland

Boat-billed Heron only

🏖️ Coastal

Forest Bittern only

None

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Boat-billed Heron

Near Threatened

Forest Bittern

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About These Birds

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 …

Forest Bittern

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