Balaenicipitidae

A single-species family, which is represented only by Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex). This large African wetland bird looks rather like a stork, except for its distinctive, huge broad bill. The genus name means  'whale-headed', and the bird is sometimes known as Whale-headed Stork.

Additional information

Shoebills are generally diurnal and typically solitary. They forage standing on floating or matted vegetation or at shorelines, or wading, sometimes in fairly deep water. To hunt, they use a 'watch and wait' or 'wade and pause' strategy. As soon as they see prey, they lunge at it with their entire body, gulping up a large amount of vegetation and water, which is  then drained from the bill; they will occasionally make such a lunge from the air. The birds fly with deep, labored wing beats, the neck tucked in like a heron (family Ardeidae), and use thermals to soar. In hot conditions, they defecate their legs, so that the evaporating liquid will cool them, and they also flutter the gullar skin.

The breeding is typically synchronized with low local water levels and highest prey concentrations, at the start of the dry season. Shoebills are monogamous and share parental duties. The nest is made from aquatic plants, and hidden on floating vegetation, a termite mound, or the ground.

Taxonomy

There is only one species in this family: Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex).