Encyclopedia > Shoebill

Article Content

Shoebill

Shoebill

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Ciconiiformes
Family:	Balaenicipitidae

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

Ardeidae herons and bitterns
Cochlearidae: Boatbill
Balaenicipitidae Shoebill
Scopidae Hammerkop
Ciconiidae: storks
Threskiornithidae ibises and spoonbills
Phoenicopteridae flamingos

All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!