The Proud Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) (10 Pics)

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The Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) also known as Whalehead or Shoe-billed Stork, is a very large stork-like bird. It derives its name from its massive shoe-shaped bill. At close range, it can be easily identified by its unique features. In flight, if its unique bill cannot be seen, the Shoebill's silhouette resembles that of a stork or condor, but its feathers are a distinctive medium blue-gray.

The population is estimated at between 5,000 and 8,000 individuals, the majority of which live in swamps in Sudan, Uganda, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. BirdLife International have classified it as Vulnerable with the main threats being habitat destruction, disturbance and hunting.

This species is considered to be one of the five most desirable birds in Africa by ornithologists. There are Egyptian images depicting the Shoebill, while the Arabs referred to the bird as abu markub, which means one with a shoe, a reference to the bird's distinctive bill.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoebill