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shoebill
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shoebill Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex). Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex). Variations in beak structure among ciconiiform birds.
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shoebill
shoebill Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex).

shoebill

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Also known as: Balaeniceps rex, shoe-billed stork, whale-headed stork
Written by
Sy Montgomery
Natural history writer. Author of Journey of the Pink Dolhpins: An Amazon Quest and Spell of the Tiger in addition to other books and articles.
Sy Montgomery
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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Also called:
shoe-billed stork or whale-headed stork
Related Topics:
Balaeniceps
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shoebill, (Balaeniceps rex), large African wading bird, a single species that constitutes the family Balaenicipitidae (order Balaenicipitiformes, Ciconiiformes, or Pelecaniformes). The species is named for its clog-shaped bill, which is an adaptation for catching and holding the large, slippery lungfish, its favourite food. This big bird also eats turtles, fish, and young crocodiles. Shoebills stand about 115 cm (3.8 feet) tall. They are entirely gray, with broad wings and long legs. The head is large in proportion to the body, and the eyes are also exceptionally large. The shoebill claps the mandibles of its bill together as a display, producing ...(100 of 238 words)

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