Shoebill [Balaeniceps rex]
Description
The shoebill, also known as whalehead, is a very large stork-like bird. It derives its name from its enormous shoe-shaped bill. It has a somewhat stork-like overall form and has previously been classified with the storks in the order Ciconiiformes based on this morphology. However, genetic evidence places it with the Pelecaniformes. The adult is mainly grey while the juveniles are browner. It lives in tropical east Africa in large swamps from Sudan to Zambia.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Birds
Aves
|
| Order |
Pelicans and Relatives
Pelecaniformes
|
| Family |
Shoebills
Balaenicipitidae
|
| Genus |
Shoebill
Balaeniceps
|