The Shoebill

The Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) also known as Whalehead or Shoe-billed Stork, is a very large stork-like bird. It derives its name from its massive shoe-shaped bill. The adult bird is 115-150 cm tall, 100-140 cm long, 230-260 cm across the wingspan and weighs 4-7 kg. Their beaks have an average length of 30 cm. The adult is mainly grey while the juveniles are browner. It lives in tropical east Africa in large swamps from Sudan to Zambia.