Shoe Bill

The Shoebill is a very unusual bird.  It is also known as the whale-headed stork or clog billed stork for its very odd shaped bill or beak.  In their wetland homes Shoebills prowl shallow waters on their long legs in search of food.  They use their sharp tipped bill to catch their prey.

Physical Description

Shoebills are very tall birds, they can reach more than 4 feet in height and weigh 14 pounds.  They are pale gray on their bellies and darker gray on their backs.  They have a very large head with a huge bill.  The bill can be 9 inches long and has a sharp tip.  Like many wading birds they have long legs to help them move through shallow water.

Family Life

Shoebill mothers normally lay 1 to 3 eggs.  Mother and father Shoebills will take turns pouring beakfulls of water over the eggs in hot weather to cool them.  After hatching both parents care for the chicks.  After about 3 months the chicks are fledged.  This means they have grown their adult feathers or plumage and are ready to leave the nest area.

Diet

Lungfish, other fish, frogs, small mammals, snakes and turtles