The Cocoi Heron is found in South America and forms a superspecies with the Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias of North America and the Grey Heron Ardea cinerea of Europe, Asia and Africa. Being parts of a superspecies they are all very similar. The Cocoi Heron has more black on the head than the other two.

There are illustrations in Hilty & Brown, Page 61 and in HBW, Volume 1, Page 404.

For recordings and a distribution map see xeno-canto .