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.

Shoebills perform bill clapping to drive away interlopers and woo mates; males and females have different tones to their “clapping.” A league of its own. Once classified as a stork—shoebill stork or …

Nov 17, 2025 · The shoebill claps the mandibles of its bill together as a display, producing a loud, hollow sound. Like herons and pelicans, shoebills fly with the head held back against the body. They nest …

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 Balaenicipitidae.

Learn all about the Shoebill Stork – how tall they are, where they live, what sounds they make, what they eat, are they endangered, and much more.

Jun 17, 2024 · Also known as a whalehead, or the whale-headed stork, the breathtaking, prehistoric-looking shoebill stork has frightened and charmed its human observers in equal measure. These …

Aug 5, 2025 · The Shoebill Stork, also known as the Whalehead or Balaeniceps rex, is a unique bird species found in the wetlands of Africa. Although it is an apex predator in its habitat, the Shoebill …

It derives its name from its enormous shoe-shaped bill. It has a somewhat stork-like overall form and has previously been classified with the storks in the order Ciconiiformes based on this morphology. …

Shoebill storks inhabit freshwater swamps and extensive, dense marshes. They are often found in areas of flood plain interspersed with undisturbed papyrus and reedbeds.

Jul 15, 2025 · Explore the unique world of the Shoebill Stork, a prehistoric-looking bird with a massive beak. Learn about its size, behavior, habitat, diet, and breeding in this in-depth guide.