by Shoebills reach up to 5 feet in height and they are formidable ambush predators, standing still in swamps before lunging forward to swallow their prey whole with their giant bills.
This menacing and prehistoric-looking bird can grow up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall – and is equipped with a sharp-edged, 1-foot-long (0.3 meter) bill — the third-largest bird beak in the world.
Its giant bill and long, skinny legs make it a formidable ambush predator —standing completely still before lunging forward to grab unsuspecting prey and swallow it whole.
A 2015 study published in the Journal of African Ornithology found that catfish were its most common prey, making up around 71% of its meals.
However, the shoebill is also known to feast on eels, snakes and even baby crocodiles.
Source
This menacing and prehistoric-looking bird can grow up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall – and is equipped with a sharp-edged, 1-foot-long (0.3 meter) bill — the third-largest bird beak in the world.
Its giant bill and long, skinny legs make it a formidable ambush predator —standing completely still before lunging forward to grab unsuspecting prey and swallow it whole.
A 2015 study published in the Journal of African Ornithology found that catfish were its most common prey, making up around 71% of its meals.
However, the shoebill is also known to feast on eels, snakes and even baby crocodiles.
Source
