1. a wading bird of Central and South America with a broad, flattened bill shaped like an upside-down boat
Usage: ornithology

Examples

• The boatbill uses its distinctive wide bill to scoop up fish and frogs from shallow water.
• We spotted a boatbill hunting along the riverbank in Costa Rica.
• The boatbill’s unusual bill shape helps it catch prey in muddy water.
• Boatbills are nocturnal birds that are most active at dusk and dawn.
• The boatbill’s broad bill distinguishes it from other heron species.
• Researchers studied the feeding behavior of boatbills in the Amazon basin.