The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), also known as the whale-headed stork, whalebill, and shoe-billed stork, is a large long-legged wading bird. Its name comes from its enormous shoe-shaped bill.

The shoebill is a large, elusive, stalk-like bird with an almost prehistoric appearance, due to its oversized shoe-shaped beak. They are sometimes referred to as ‘ whalehead ‘.

Nov 12, 2025 · A Shoebill, a rare and majestic prehistoric-looking bird known for its large shoe-shaped bill and long legs, landed on a boat in Mabamba Bay, Uganda, providing a unique …

Mar 2, 2024 · Here’s how it works. Although sometimes incorrectly referred to as a stork, the shoebill is actually the only member of the Balaeniceps genus and the wider family …

The shoebill favors the vast papyrus swamps of the Sudd, in northern East Africa. Shoebills stake out overspill areas, where water is moving slowly past toward lakes, carrying with it lots of …

5 days ago · shoebill, (Balaeniceps rex), large African wading bird, a single species that constitutes the family Balaenicipitidae (order Balaenicipitiformes, Ciconiiformes, or …

Aug 5, 2016 · When there’s nothing but lungfish or crocodile left, the Shoebill will give it a quick decapitation with the sharp edges of the bill (because of course it does) and swallow away.

Aug 5, 2025 · The shoebill stork (Balaeniceps rex) is a unique bird species with a fascinating evolutionary history. While the exact origins of this enigmatic bird remain unclear, scientists …

What makes the aptly named shoebill so unique is its foot-long bill that resembles a Dutch clog. Tan with brown splotches, it's five inches wide and has sharp edges and a sharp hook on the …

Basic facts about Shoebill: lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status.