- Busarellus nigricollis
Identification
White head tinged with buff, black shaft streaks on crown, bright cinnamon rufous body, above and below, and mantle, paler on chest, black crescent on upper breast, back has scattered black shaft stripes, black flight and tail feathers, base of tail barred with rufous, bright reddish brown eyes, black cere and bill, bluish white legs. Immature - similar, blotched with black, including on the crown, rufous barring on tail is more extensive, pale area on the chest is also more clearly marked, upper surface of the wings is barred, and the eyes are brown.
Distribution
Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Taxonomy
There are 2 subspecies:
- B n nigricollis
- B n leucocephalus
Habitat
Moist lowland forests and swamps.
Behaviour
The nest is placed in a large tree, frequently near water; it is lined with green leaves. 3-5 dull white, spotted with pale yellow-brown or red-brown, and a few darker freckles eggs are laid.
The diet includes fish, water bugs and occasionally lizards, snails and rodents.


