They have the slowest flap rate, 150 flaps per minute, among the birds of flight. Here they have another record to their name. The shoebills use their wings to balance while standing, ward of any predators, and fly. That is five times the size of their bodies. Shoebills have a remarkable wingspan of 7 ft 7 in to 8 ft 6 in. At just 150 flaps/minute, they have the lowest flap rate of any living bird. The bills are also helpful in weeding out any vegetation that gets collected along with the fish. The shoebill’s beak enables it to devour lungfish, catfish, snakes, or even baby crocodiles with ease. The bill is exceptionally strong, and with the curved hook present at the end of the beak, it can kill its prey with one single blow. The bill, which measures between 7.4 to 9.4 in, is considered to be the third-largest bill after pelicans and storks. The unique feature of this bird and the one that gives it its name is the enormous, bulbous bill. Shoebills have the third-largest beak in the bird kingdom, which is strong enough to kill even baby crocodiles. A typical adult weighs between 4 to 7 kg, with males being heavier than the females. Shoebills have a tarsus length of 8.5 to 10 in, and large feet that help them stand firm on aquatic vegetation while hunting. Shoebills are tall birds with their height ranging between 110 to 140 cm (43 to 55 in) and some have been recorded to be 152 cm (60 in). The bird has long, spindle-like legs that are of the same color (blue-gray) as its feathers. Quite like its name, the shoebill is a peculiar looking bird as well. Long spindly legs give the shoebill storks’ morphology a distinctive appearance. Along with their natural habitats, shoebills are a rare sighting at certain zoos like the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the Prague Zoo, and the Dallas World Aquarium. They are found in large numbers in the West Nile region of Sudan. They are native to Africa and can be found in South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania. Shoebills call freshwater swamps and marshes their home. Native to Africa, shoebills inhabit swamps and marshes. Some recent studies, though, which considered the shoebill’s eggshell structure and DNA, found it more closely related to pelicans. However, owing to its morphology, some scientists place shoebill among storks in the family Ciconiiformes. According to one school of thought, a shoebill’s vocal organs are similar to those of herons of the family Pelecaniformes, which also includes pelicans and ibises. Shoebill (left) Pélican frisé (Right) Image credits: Frédéric BISSON/FlickrĮver since the discovery of shoebills, scientists have struggled to classify them into a family. Shoebills are more closely related to pelicans than storks. The shape of its bill resembles a dutch wooden clog (shoe). However, it gets its proper name from its peculiarly shaped bill. Over the years, the shoebill stork has been called by various names including “whale-head,” “whale-headed stork,” “boat-bill,” and “bog-bird” among many others. Resembling a Dutch wooden clog, the beak is the reason for the name “shoebill.”
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