#boatbill

Yellow-breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus flaviventer), male, family Machaerirhynchidae, order Passeriformes, North QLD, Australia

Photo: Josh More

"A crepuscular species, it uses its unique bill to hunt amphibians, small fish, crustaceans, insects, and small vertebrates, while wading through shallow water. The courtship display of this species is quite ritualized and includes carefully coordinated bill-touching and false fighting. It has been known to nest individually or in mixed species colonies of other herons and ibises. Unlike other species of herons, the Boat-billed Heron is very aggressive when defending its nest and young against potential predators, scaring away other species of birds, and vocalizing loudly, even lunging, at approaching humans."

From: Pantalogia. London : J. Walker, 1819

Yellow-breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus flaviventer), male, family Machaerirhynchidae, order Passeriformes, North QLD, Australia

Yellow-breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus flaviventer), male, family Machaerirhynchidae, order Passeriformes, North QLD, Australia

 Black-breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus nigripectus), family Machaerirhynchidae, order Passeriformes, endemic to New Guinea

Yellow-breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus flaviventer), male, family Machaerirhynchidae, order Passeriformes, North QLD, Australia