This is a comparison as old as time, by the way: Arabian countries used to refer to shoebills as abu markub (“one with a shoe”) in reference to their beaks. Between their size, shape, and color, these enormous mandibles can look a lot like a cobbler’s latest pair of clogs. Shoebill storks are named after their beaks. Whenever they can, they prefer to glide on thermals rather than flap against air currents. Shoebills don’t like altitudes of more than 1,000 feet, and they flap their wings at a rate of 150 flaps per minute, which is slower than almost every other bird in existence. They just keep their flights low and quick.

While they aren’t the world’s greatest flyers, shoebills can take to the air whenever they need to escape a bad situation or find a new feeding ground. After genetic testing, it was determined that they’re more closely related to pelicans and herons than storks, so they were re-classified under the pelecaniformes label. Technically speaking, however, the shoebill stork isn’t a stork at all. They were classified under the ciconiiformes label along with species like the black stork and the marabou stork, and that’s why “shoebill stork” is still the name that most people use to describe them. This is a more complicated question than it might seem.įor a long time, shoebills were considered storks. They outclass both herons and hamerkops only pelicans have larger wings. With a wingspan of 7.7 – 8.6 feet, the shoebill stork can stretch farther than almost everyone else in their genus. The overall weight range for shoebill storks is 8.8 – 15.4 pounds. Males typically hover around 12 pounds females are slightly smaller at 11 pounds. The tallest on record was a reported five feet. The average shoebill measures between 3.5 – 4.5 feet. But buckle up: We’ve barely scratched the surface of their strangeness! 4. When you look at all of their physical oddities, it’s easy to see why some people believe that the shoebill stork isn’t even real. They’re usually a yellow color mottled with white and gray. Not only are their bills made of hard, strong keratin, but they also end with a sharp nail on the upper mandible to help the shoebill stork rip through its prey. Protruding a massive 7 – 9 inches (17.7-22.8 cm), they look like something out of a dinosaur movie. Their beaks, however, are the most noticeable feature of the shoebill stork. They tend to be a lighter blue at the tops of their heads and a darker, almost navy blue at the ends of their feathers. Their coloring is a blue-white that tends to stand out in their naturally muddy habitats. Their wings are quite large as well, folding back over their bodies and providing a fluffy layer of coverage. They tower over their feathered friends with long, skinny legs and spindly feet. While petting is discouraged, you can walk right up to them without fear of attack.

Some locations even allow their shoebill storks to mingle freely with human guests.

They’re popular additions to zoos and animal parks because of their larger-than-life appearance, and they’ll tolerate all kinds of gawking from tourists. In captivity, however, shoebill storks are gentle, docile creatures. Shoebill storks can be quite aggressive in the wild, so people tend to sensationalize them as “the stork of your nightmares” and “the most terrifying bird in the world.” They exist in the swamps and marshes of central Africa, and their strange physiology helps them with things like hunting, nesting, mating and defending their territory. There are a lot of reasons why you might cry “Photoshop!” when looking at shoebill storks. It’s one of the largest, strangest birds in Africa, and learning more about it will take you on a journey of everything from decapitation to deforestation.Īre you ready? Have you prepared yourself for these shoebill stork facts? Let’s learn about this weird bird! 1. It might look like a dinosaur, but the shoebill stork isn’t a T-Rex. Why do shoebill storks gravitate towards shallow water? What is the habitat of the shoebill stork? Why do shoebill storks shake their heads? Do shoebill storks care about their young at all? How many eggs does the shoebill stork lay? What do they look like? What other names does the shoebill stork have? What measures are being taken to protect the shoebill stork? What eats a shoebill stork? Predators and Threats

Shoebill meme