Shoebill stork

The shoebill stork, otherwise known as the whalehead (Balaeniceps rex), is the only living member of the Balaenicipitidae family. 

There has been much debate over whether the family belongs to the order of Ciconiiformes (which includes storks) or Pelecaniformes (which includes pelicans). The consensus appears to be that the shoebill stork represents one of the missing links between storks and pelicans, so its status in terms of order remains in doubt.

The shoebill stork is found in eastern Africa, from the upper Nile Valley of Sudan as far south as Zambia, with most of the population being towards the north of its range. It inhabits swampy reedbeds and can be seen singly or in pairs as it wades in the shallows. It will also soar high above the land.

Appearance

Whatever its place in bird taxonomy, the shoebill stork is a remarkable and unmistakable bird. It stands about three and a half to four feet tall and its plumage is uniformly grey apart from some lighter colouring underneath. Some specimens have a wingspan of more than ten feet. The feet resemble those of herons in having a slight comb on the central claw, and the hind toe is level with the three unwebbed front toes.

However, the feature that sets the shoebill apart from any other stork or pelican is its massive bill that resembles a shoe or wooden clog in shape. This measures about eight inches in length and it is nearly the same across. The upper bill has a strong claw-like hook at the end.

Behaviour and feeding

The shoebill stork uses its bill to probe the muddy water for lungfish, its favourite food, and other fish and amphibians. It will also take small turtles, young crocodiles, small mammals and carrion. 

In 2009 a shoebill was observed in San Diego Wild Animal Park to pick up an adult duck and move it carefully to one side without harming it, which suggests that the shoebill’s reputation for eating just about anything it can swallow might be misplaced. However, not too much reliance should be placed on an incident in a captive environment as to whether the same would have happened in the wild. Should a tasty morsel of any kind comes its way, a hungry shoebill stork would be unlikely to refuse it.

Breeding

Shoebill storks nest either on the ground or on substantial floating islands of vegetation. The nest comprises a mass of grass stems woven together. Two eggs are normally laid, sometimes three, but only one chick is likely to survive beyond fledging. Incubation takes about 30 days and is performed by both parents, who will turn the eggs from time to time and keep their temperature constant by cooling them with wet vegetation if necessary. The surviving chick or chicks will fledge only after about 100 days.

© John Welford