Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

It’s the end of the dry season in the Pantanal, and the torrential downpour of last night is now flowing towards the permanent rivers and lakes. In this photo the heron is walking in one such stream.

This fresh water does not go unnoticed by those living in the permanent waters. Fish and crab will migrate upstream, to reach new grounds for hunting and and spawning.

Right behind are of course the hunters, like the heron seen here.

This heron was not the only hunter at this location – a big caiman was also waiting for migrating fish and crab.

Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

It sounds like this:

Last updated on 7 December 2020