Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Shoebill
(Redirected from Balaenicipitidae)
| Shoebill | ||||||||||||||
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| Balaeniceps rex (Gould, 1850) |
The Shoebill or Whalehead (Balaeniceps rex) is a very large bird related to the storks. It derives its name from its massive shoe-shaped bill.
The Shoebill is a large (60in) grey bird, although the juveniles are browner. It lives in tropical east Africa, especially Uganda. It nests on the ground, laying 2 eggs.
Shoebills feed in muddy waters, preying on lungfish and similar fish.
The Shoebill makes up one of the families in the order Ciconiiformes, which also includes other wading bird groups:
Ciconiiformes
- Ardeidae herons and bitterns
- Cochlearidae: Boatbill
- Balaenicipitidae Shoebill
- Scopidae Hammerkop
- Ciconiidae: storks
- Threskiornithidae ibises and spoonbills
- Phoenicopteridae flamingos
10-26-2009 08:16:03
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details