Its broad, flattened bill is distinctive. In mangroves and river-edge woodland of Central and South America, it ambushes fish and other prey at dim hours.
Its wide, flattened bill has a boat-like shape.
It lives in mangroves and river-edge woodland, ambushing fish and other prey at dusk, dawn, or night.
It builds stick platforms in trees or bushes over water, sometimes lined with leaves. It lays one to four eggs, usually three, and both sexes incubate for 25–27 days.
It has a black crown and nape plumes, white forehead and cheeks, and large dark brown eyes. The sexes look alike, but males have longer nape plumes.
Juveniles have dull rufous backs and wings, dingy white underparts washed pink-buff, and shorter nape plumes than adults.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.