Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this page were taken by Paul Smith, Arne Lesterhuis and Frank Fragano and are used with their permission.
COCOI HERON Ardea cocoi
The South American representative of the superspecies which includes the familiar Great Blue Ardea herodias and Grey Ardea cinera herons, the Cocoi Heron is the largest heron in Paraguay. He is a handsome bird, superbly equipped for hunting his aquatic prey, with long legs for wading, forward facing eyes for binocular vision and a dagger-like bill to strike with precision.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPAVE141PH) Adult, Bahía Negra, Departamento Alto Paraguay (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 2 - (FPAVE142PH) Adult dorsal, Arroyos y Esteros, Departamento Cordillera (Jerry Cooper April 2009).
FIGURE 3 - (FPAVE143PH) Adult taking flight, Lolita, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Paul Smith October 2007).
FIGURE 4 - (FPAVE144PH) Adult taking flight, Bahía Negra, Departamento Alto Paraguay (Arne Lesterhuis undated).
FIGURE 5 - (FPAVE145PH) Adult in flight, location unknown (Frank Fragano udnated).
FIGURE 6 - (FPAVE146PH) Adult perched in tree, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith February 2006).
FIGURE 7 - (FPAVE147PH) Skull found at Laguna Capitán, Cuenca Upper Yacaré Sur (Paul Smith July 2006).
VIDEO - (FPAVE3380VI) Adult, PN Rio Negro, Departamento Alto Paraguay (Paul Smith July 2012).
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