Theshoebill is primarily a silent bird, but one of the few noises it makes is a machine gun-like bill-clattering, generally used by members of a nesting pair to communicate with each other and their nestlings. Shoebills may also utter croaking sounds, cow-like moos, whines, and nestlings may beg for food with hiccups.
Most of the shoebill’s diet consists of large fish such as lungfish and tilapia, but they will also feed on fish, frogs, lizards, turtles, snails, waterfowl, and even juvenile crocodiles. There are even unconfirmed reports of shoebills devouring small antelope calves. When the shoebill gets ahold of prey too large to swallow in one piece, it will decapitate the animal with one blow of its massive beak.
Theshoebill, also known as the whalehead, is a large, stork-like bird distinguished by its huge, shoe-like bill. While it was once believed to belong to the stork family, recent genetic evidence has proven that it is actually more closely related to the pelicans.
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#Birdography Presents The Mighty Shoebill! by #birdographer @timflachphotography
The Shoebill is a large stork like bird that spends its time foraging for fish in East African swampland. As a result of habitat distraction this magnificent bird is considered Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. #VisitUganda for the chance of seeing & photographing them in the wild.
Shoebill stork are normally silent, but they sometimes perform bill-clattering displays by clapping the upper & lower jaws, producing a loud hollow sound like a machine gun. ︻╦╤─…………
Which is more terrifying? Giant predatory bird staring at you in eerie silence, or giant predatory bird making a sound that belongs in Jurassic Park followed by the sound of a machine gun.
This stork-like bird is probably best known for, you guessed it, its massive beak. In fact, the bill is so big, it’s earned the bird a nickname: “whalehead.” But you won’t find this bird in the ocean, its preferred habitat are the marshes and freshwater swamps of east Africa.
Today, enjoy a few facts about the shoebill (Balaeniceps rex):
It’s okay to admit. To some eyes, these birds could be seen as a tad frightening. They’re big, with some shoebills standing over 4 feet (1.22 meters) tall and weighing around 12 pounds (5.4 kg).
Shoebills have a large prominent beak that looks a lot like a wooden shoe. They also have surprisingly large feet (see photo above), which may help them navigate shallow waters surfaced with floating vegetation.
When it comes to mating, shoebills are monogamous. Both males and females participate in all aspects of the chick rearing. And as the University of Michigan notes, shoebills engage in “egg watering,” filling their beaks with water and dumping that on eggs to help keep them cool.
AsAudubon points out, the diet of a shoebill is diverse and ranges from eels and lungfish to baby crocodiles. While hunting, the birds will stand and wait or slowly stalk through vegetation in shallow water until they can find a meal.
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