Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex)
![]() | This page forms part of Project Species and considered an phase 1 article stub. Please consider adding knowledge to this page. See Project Species for more information. |
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Balaeniceps_rex_%28Schuhschnabel_-_Shoebill%29_-_Weltvogelpark_Walsrode_2011.jpg/300px-Balaeniceps_rex_%28Schuhschnabel_-_Shoebill%29_-_Weltvogelpark_Walsrode_2011.jpg)
The Shoebill, alternatively referred to as the whalebill, whale-headed stork, and shoe-billed stork, is a sizable wading bird with long legs. Its notable feature is its large bill, resembling a shoe in shape, from which it gets its name. Initially categorized within the storks due to its stork-like appearance, recent genetic studies have reclassified it within the Pelecaniformes group, alongside pelicans and herons.