Shoebills have gray plumage (it starts out brown then turns gray as shoebills age).Shoebills have a short neck (unlike their pelican relatives).Shoebills are ancient birds that have been recognized by humans all the way back to the time of ancient Egypt. The shoebill was mislabeled as a stork for a long time, but was eventually relocated to the pelican group and is also considered to be somewhat similar to a heron. Shoebill birds lay eggs that are similar to that of a pelican and also share some DNA with pelicans. The shoebill usually comes in between 40 and 50 inches, although it may be slightly larger than this depending on the individual bird. Male shoebill birds usually weigh around 12 pounds and are a little bit heavier than female shoebills, but not by much. Although their body and wings are shaped somewhat like a condor, shoebills are not related to this type of bird.īy su neko – Shoebill ~ハシビロコウ~, CC BY 2.0, They have a large wingspan meant for soaring and short necks, unlike their stork and pelican relatives.Īll shoebill birds have massive spoon-like bills and feature gray plumage that is brown when they’re younger. This means that, while the shoebill is not endangered yet, it is on its way to that point due to habitat destruction and hunting. Shoebill’s scientific name = Balaeniceps Rex.Conservation efforts are in place to prevent the shoebill from reaching endangered classification. The scientific name of the shoebill is Balaeniceps rex. The Balaeniceps genus comes from the family Balaenicipitidae, which includes only the shoebill and the hamerkop. The hamerkop is much smaller than a shoebill and doesn’t look very similar to the shoebill, despite being part of the same family. Shoebills do not have different species.There is only one type of shoebill, but there are two known prehistoric relatives of this type of bird. Despite the shoebill descending from both of these relatives, it does not have separate types now, and the shoebill doesn’t even come in more than one color.īy nao-cha from Tokyo, Japan – Shoebill #2, CC BY-SA 2.0, The first is called Goliathia and was found in Egypt, and the second is called Paludavis and was also found in Egpyt, but fossilized at a different time period. Humans have known about shoebills as long ago as ancient Egypt, when they are first referred to in written language. They did not receive a classification until the 1800s, however, when they become known to the West and specifically to Europe. It wasn’t until over a hundred years later that shoebills were reclassified. Today, scientists continue to study fossils and information about shoebills to get a better idea of what they are and how to understand them. There’s a lot more to learn about shoebills, and this information has really only scratched the surface. Understanding these beautiful shoebill birds is important, and education about these creatures will help in conservation efforts and in preventing the shoebill bird from becoming endangered. Shoebills are not particularly harmful to humans and there are no confirmed cases of death due to these birds attacking humans, pets, or livestock. It is important to work to preserve shoebill birds and their habitats so that shoebills can continue thriving in the years to come.This, sir, is most definitely a demon.- Chara ? Patreon/Onlyfans June 10, 2020Īccording to an article by the Audobon Society titled, “The Shoebill: Or, the Most Terrifying Bird in the World” (seriously, even the freaking Audobon Society thinks this bird is terrifying AF), They may look scary and have big, intimidating bills, but those bills are only a cause for concern for fish and some small animals. The article begins by asking if there isn’t a better name we could be using for this bird. While it poses no real threat to humans (sure…) the Shoebill is actually a pretty terrifying creature, and not just because it looks like a Muppet that was spawned from one of your nightmares. The Shoebill will stand there, motionless as a statue, and wait for some poor lungfish or baby crocodile to swim by. Then the bird will pounce forward, all five feet of it, with its massive bill wide open, engulfing its target along with water, mud, vegetation, and probably any other hapless fish minding their own business.
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