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Shoebill
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Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) A Shoebill Stork (Balaeniceps rex) with a large, shoe-shaped bill stands in a green marsh surrounded by dense vegetation. A Shoebill Stork (Balaeniceps rex) with a large, shoe-shaped bill stands in tall green grass, facing the camera. Variations in beak structure among ciconiiform birds.
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Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex)
Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex)

Shoebill

bird
Also known as: Balaeniceps rex, shoe-billed stork, shoebill stork, whale-headed stork(Show More)
Written by
Sy Montgomery
Natural history writer. Author of Journey of the Pink Dolhpins: An Amazon Quest and Spell of the Tiger in addition to other books and articles.
Sy Montgomery
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
•History

Shoebill, (Balaeniceps rex), large African wading bird, a single species that constitutes the family Balaenicipitidae (order Balaenicipitiformes, Ciconiiformes, or Pelecaniformes). The species is named for its clog-shaped bill, which is an adaptation for catching and holding the large, slippery lungfish, its favourite food. This big bird also eats turtles, fish, and young crocodiles. Shoebills stand about 115 cm (3.8 feet) tall. They are entirely gray, with broad wings and long legs. The head is large...

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