This means that Shoebill is a bird that does not migrate often. Reports of strays have surfaced in the Okavango and upper Congo basins. Isolated cases of shoebill settlement have been reported in Kenya, northern Cameroon, southwestern Ethiopia and Malawi. This species is most abundant in the Western Nile subregion and nearby parts of southern Sudan. This species is limited to Africa and lives in the east-central side of the continent. They also have very long fingers that are completely separated without webbing They have big eyes that are either yellowish or greyish white in color. Their neck is shorter and thicker than other tall-legged water fowl such as cranes, herons, and spoonbills. The mandibles have sharp edges that help them grasp prey. It’s huge, ending with a sharp curved hook that helps it eat. The bird’s notable feature is its beak- which resembles a boot in color and markings. The Arabs call this bird abu markub, meaning “shoe”.

The name ‘Balaenoptera’ comes from Latin words for “whale” and “head”, which are abbreviated to -ceps in compound words. John Gould described the species in 1850, calling it Balaeniceps rex. But it wasn’t classified until the 19th century, when living specimens were brought to Europe. The Kitoglav was known to the ancient Egyptians and Arabs. The species is found in nine African countries and has a large range, but is confined to small populations in a few wetland locations. This appearance may recall the origin of birds from dinosaurs. The Shoebill is a waterbird that is unmistakable due to its unique “shoe-shaped” bill.

However, there are some real original birds that don’t follow these traditional norms for instance their appearance could be more reminiscent of a fairy tale character or even an animal from a fantasy book. There are over 10,000 different birds in the world, most of which fit into people’s traditional ideas about what a bird should look like.

Shoebill beak noise