With a completely prehistoric appearance, the shoebill is diametrically different from all the birds we are used to observing. Large in size with a prominent head and a large beak, this winged being has inspired the most mysterious legends because its resemblance to its ancestors, the dinosaurs, is more than evident. Although it must be said that it is a harmless bird that is related to pelicans and herons.
Also known as ‘whale head’ or ‘shoebill stork’, due to the peculiar shape of its beak, the shoebill has the scientific name Balaeniceps rex. It is very peculiar because it is the only species that belongs to the Balaencipitidae family, although it had previously been related to the stork family (Ciconiiformes) due to its great similarity in height and shape, evidence has shown that it has no genetic relationship with these . If anything, the most recent research shows that the large bird is closer to pelicans and herons.
A prehistoric appearance
The shoebill is a blue-gray bird that is very tall, with an average measurement ranging between 110 and 140 centimeters. However, the largest specimens measure up to 152 centimeters, which is comparable to the height of a person. But this is nothing comparable to the size they reach when they open their wings; Its wingspan measures nearly 260 centimeters.
It is for this reason that they are called so much the , since they are very large birds although they are not very heavy. They weigh around 4 to 7 kilograms because they require lightness to take flight.
But the characteristic that perhaps draws the most attention to the shoebill is the one that precisely gave it its name. The beak of the Balaeniceps rex is simply magnetic to the eye because it is so different from that of other birds. It has a size of 18 to 24 centimeters long, this is the third largest beak of all known birds, with pelicans and large storks being the only species that surpass it in size.
The shape of its large beak resembles that of a straw-colored Swedish shoe with grayish markings, except that it has a claw-shaped ending that it uses to decapitate its prey, which are usually lungfish, catfish and tilapia. Although it can also hunt small crocodiles, lizards, turtles and frogs.
With such an appearance that it does seem to come from the dinosaurs themselves, the shoebill causes great intrigue in those who have the opportunity to admire them. But this intrigue is heightened when they show their so-called ‘collapse’ behavior, which involves the bird remaining still without blinking for long hours, and then dropping onto its prey unexpectedly.
Perhaps this is why they have earned their reputation as mysterious, since you have to imagine a bird of this size remaining motionless for long periods of time. Although another interesting quality that added to their fame is the sound they generate with their beaks, they do it when they are near their nest and also to find a mate. They hit their beak against their jaw repeatedly and generate a sound similar to that of a machine gun.
Where do shoebills live?
The natural habitat of shoebills is in distant Africa, they usually live in the swamps and wetlands of the wild continent. They can be found in central tropical Africa, from southern Sudan to northern Zambia.
Although they are capable of flying, very large movements have not been recorded, so they are not considered migratory birds. Rather, they present a limited seasonal movement pattern that responds to changes in habitat, food availability and, of course, the disturbance that humans cause in their home.
Unfortunately, they are a species that is vulnerable mainly due to hunting and illegal trafficking, as well as their habitat that has been affected by the excessive extraction of natural resources.