Shoebill
| Shoebill | ||||||||||||||
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| Balaeniceps rex (Gould, 1850) |
The Shoebill or Whalehead (Balaeniceps rex) is a very large bird related to the storks. It derives its name from its massive shoe-shaped bill.
The Shoebill is a large (60in) grey bird, although the juveniles are browner. It lives in tropical east Africa, especially Uganda. It nests ion the ground, laying 2 eggs.
Shoebills feed in muddy waters, preying on lungfish and similar fish.
The Shoebill makes up one of the families in the order Ciconiiformes, which also includes other wading bird groups:
Ciconiiformes