(#5) The Shoebill Stork Can Literally Stare You In The Eyes
Though not a very meaty bird (even the biggest of the species top out at 16 pounds), the shoebill stork is still extremely large. They routinely reach nearly five feet in height, and their wings can stretch to more than seven feet in width.
Add to that physical stature the creature’s famous glassy stare, and you’ve concocted one intimidating stork.
(#12) One Shoebill Absolutely Demands Respect
Just in case you had any doubts about the kind of respect that the shoebill demands from the people and animals around it, check out this Ugandan shoebill named Sushi. Sushi is available for petting at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe, but he won’t let anyone just walk right up to him. Sushi demands that anyone aiming to stroke his feathers bow before they approach him.
Says amateur photographer Mark Dudley, “Shoebill ttorks are very large and can cause a lot of damage if they wanted to, so it’s important to observe ‘his’ rules.”
(#4) They’re So Patient You Won’t Even Realize They’re Alive Until It’s Too Late
Shoebill storks are masters of patience. They’ll sit in the water for hours on end, sometimes submerged up to their waists, as the creepy crawlies swim around them, poor things unaware of the grim fate that peers down at them from above.
Then, suddenly, the shoebill will lunge forward, driving its razor-sharp bill into the silt, totally engulfing its victim (along with a bunch of dirt, water, and kelp). The shoebill clamps down, lifts its giant head, and starts swinging its bill back and forth, sifting out the stuff it doesn’t want to actually eat before dining.
(#8) They Sh*t On Themselves To Keep Their Cool
Anyone who’s had the bad fortune of catching a little bird excrement on their hair or body knows that it’s mostly liquid. The shoebill stork’s poo is no different. What’s frightening is that the stork actually uses its droppings to keep itself cool.
Okay, so the blood pumping through a shoebill’s legs is warm. When the shoebill goes on itself, the warm blood underneath cools down. This results in a cooler stork. A cooler stork with sh*t on its legs and the piercing eyes of a demon.
(#3) Shoebills Eat The Stuff Of Your Nightmares
Just take a few, brief moments to think about all the slippery, slimy, scary terrors of the natural world swimming and squirming through the darkest corners of your mind. You’re picturing crocodiles and eels and lungfish (even if you didn’t know they existed, you definitely are). Too bad those are the kinds of critters that the shoebill absolutely loves to munch down on.
That’s right, the shoebill will happily go to town on a freaking crocodile if the thing happens to cross its path.
(#7) When It Does Make Noise, It Sounds Like A Machine Gun
When it’s time for the shoebill to get down with a member of the opposite sex, they track a potential mate to a specific spot and then make a resounding clapping noise with their bill, simultaneously attracting a mate and scaring the sh*t out of any small creatures in the vicinity.
Once the kids get popped out, the parents only stick around long enough to make sure that one of their brood has the basics covered. At that point, Mom and Dad leave the chick to its own devices, taking off to parts unknown.
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The shoebill has been regarded as the most terrifying bird in the world, although the cassowary may disagree. These majestic water birds live in the swamps of South Sudan, Uganda, and other tropical regions of East Africa, preying on their prey with their unique, instantly recognizable beaks. The shoebill looks lazy and stupid, but there are some scary facts about them that may ruin your perception.
The random tool collected 12 facts about shoebill birds that you may never know. The number of shoebills in the world is decreasing sharply, these iconic birds are threatened by many human factors.
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