ShoeBillTaps

The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) is a large, long-legged wading bird that is also known as the whalebill, whale-headed stork, or shoe-billed stork. It has a typical height range of 110 to 140 cm (43 to 55 in) and a wingspan of up to eight feet. The plumage of adult birds is blue-grey with darker slaty-grey flight feathers, while the juvenile has a similar plumage color but is a darker grey with a brown tinge. The shoebill's most distinctive feature is its foot-long bill that resembles a Dutch clog, which is tan with brown splotches, five inches wide, and has sharp edges and a sharp hook on the end. Its specialized bill allows the shoebill to grab large prey, including lungfish, tilapia, eels, and snakes, and even baby crocodiles and Nile monitor lizards. The shoebill has long, thin legs with large feet that are ideal for walking on the vegetation in freshwater marshes. It is mainly silent but sometimes engages in bill-clattering, a sound made as a greeting and during nesting. The shoebill is a fascinating and unique bird that is often compared to prehistoric creatures due to its appearance and behavior.