As with other birds, the poop is mostly liquid, and heat from warm blood passing through the legs is used to evaporate the liquid waste, resulting in cooler blood circulating through the stork. They crap on their own legs because it keeps them cool. (Why would I even be writing these words if not to lull you into a false sense of terror completion?) Are you ready for it? They crap on their legs. Arabs reportedly called the bird Abu-Markhub, or “father of a slipper” (just can’t get away from that shoe imagery).īy now we must have hit all the things that are scary about the Shoebill, you must be saying. They appear in the artwork of the ancient Egyptians. Shoebills have been a beloved species for a long time. But it’s also impossible not to be impressed by these giants. When there’s nothing but lungfish or crocodile left, the Shoebill will give it a quick decapitation with the sharp edges of the bill (because of course it does) and swallow away.
Clamping down on its prey, the bird will start to swing its massive head back and forth, tipping out whatever stuff it doesn’t want to eat. Then the bird will pounce forward, all five feet of it, with its massive bill wide open, engulfing its target along with water, mud, vegetation, and probably any other hapless fish minding their own business. The Shoebill will stand there, motionless as a statue, and wait for some poor lungfish or baby crocodile to swim by. While it poses no real threat to humans (sure…) the Shoebill is actually a pretty terrifying creature, and not just because it looks like a Muppet that was spawned from one of your nightmares. The article begins by asking if there isn’t a better name we could be using for this bird. RELATED ARTICLE: Meet these Adorable Round Birds that Can Do Perfect Splits!Ĭheck out more news and information on Birds on Science Times.This, sir, is most definitely a demon.- Chara 💔 Patreon/Onlyfans June 10, 2020Īccording to an article by the Audobon Society titled, “The Shoebill: Or, the Most Terrifying Bird in the World” (seriously, even the freaking Audobon Society thinks this bird is terrifying AF), Sadly, their numbers continue to go down as they lose their habitats because lands are cleared for pasture. However, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature has classified the shoebill as vulnerable species with only between 3,300 and 5,300 adults left in the world. They sit on their eggs for at least 30 days to hatch. Although solitary in nature, both male and female shoebill participate in the development of their young, this includes incubating, turning the eggs, and cooling them with water. They only mate during the dry season to avoid the crowding of nests, and once it is over, they separate from each other. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators. It is very rare to see two or more shoebill storks being next to each other. Even when they are paired or have mated, they still hunt and eat alone and away from their partners. As for chicks, they make a hiccup-like sound that indicates they are hungry.ĪLSO READ: Fun Fact: Is This A Creepy Bird With Multiple Legs? Apparently Not!Īccording to Africa Freak, shoebill storks are very territorial, so they live in solitary. They clap their lower jaw and upper jaw together to produce a hollow sound. Shoebills are able to make this sound using a technique known as gular fluttering or the vibrating of the throat muscles to dissipate heat. Shoebill makes this loud bill-clattering display to attract a partner although it may sound scary to humans, it sounds attractive to these birds, especially during nesting season. It is very loud and scary that sounds like a hippopotamus calling. This "bill-clattering behavior" is also observed when they are greeting another bird.
Shoebills are mostly silent as they wait for their prey, but they produce a strange sound that is not common among birds.ĭuring nesting, the adult shoebill makes awesome machine gun noises, Africa Freak reported. According to Soothing Nature, this fishing technique is called "collapsing," wherein it involves lunging or falling forward to their prey.īut that is not the only amazing thing about them. By the time a lungfish comes up for air, it would be already too late to notice this lethal prehistoric-looking bird.
Shoebill can stay motionless for many hours so that it will not get noticed by its prey.
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