Habitat: This species will prefer habitats like mangroves, freshwater swamps and river shores. Distribution: This species was mostly reported from Panama, but we can also find it in Mexico, Bolivia and northern Argentina. Natural History Notes: The Boat-billed heron will feed at night in solitary. Their diet consists in mud-dwelling fish and crustacean. During daylight, we can see it resting in groups in the foliage of trees. Conservation status according to IUCN 2008 Red list: Least Concern (LC). Characteristics: The total length of this species varies between 18 inches and 20 inches (measured from tip of bill to end of tail). We can first recognize this species by the broad and flat shape of its bill (beak). The coloration pattern seems to differ with the different locations in Panama. Usually, this species will have a crown and a long crest and the upper part of the back black. Then, most of the other parts (wings, rump) have a grayish coloration. However, in the region of Darién, we can note the plumage is paler gray and that the breast and the foreneck are white.