Unique little-known bird - black beak

Blackbeak (Latin Cochlearius cochlearius) is a unique representative of the heron family, which is not at all like its other relatives. Just look at its wide and short beak! The length of this decoration reaches 8 cm with a width of 5 cm. At the tip of the beak there is a small sharp hook.



The body length of an adult bird ranges from 50 to 60 cm with a weight of 0.5 to 1 kg. In this case, males are much larger and heavier than females. On the head of the black beak there is a large black crest, legs and belly of grayish or brown color. The rest of the plumage is mostly gray, only the forehead, throat and sides of the bird are white.



Its range extends from Mexico to Brazil, where it lives in coastal mangroves and on the banks of rivers with dense vegetation. It feeds on fish, crustaceans, small amphibians, insects and small mammals. Interestingly, during hunting, birds often make sounds similar to the croaking of local frogs.



During the day in the homeland of black beaks too hot, so at this time they prefer to rest in the shade. In the evening, the birds go hunting. At the same time, thickened twilight does not scare them at all, because huge eyes allow blackbeaks to see well in the dark.



They hunt slowly: either stand in the water, looking for suitable animals, or wander in shallow water. Sometimes they use their chic beak as a scoop to catch something tasty from the river.



Blackbills like to lead a solitary lifestyle, but during the nesting period they gather in small colonies. In order to attract the attention of females, males straighten their crests and rattle their beaks. Nests are built on trees near water. In the laying of 2-4 bluish eggs, the incubation of which the male and female are engaged alternately. The life expectancy of black beaks is 25 years.

Source: zoopicture.ru