🏷️
Classification
Bird
🍽️
Diet
Carnivore
⏱️
Lifespan
30–35 years
⚖️
Weight
4–7 kg
Population Trend
📉Decreasing
Description
A massive prehistoric-looking stork found in the swamps of central tropical Africa.
Habitat
🌿 swamps🌿 marshes🌿 wetlands
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Pelecaniformes
Family
Balaenicipitidae
Genus
Balaeniceps
Fun Facts
1
Named for its enormous shoe-shaped bill.
2
Can stand perfectly still for hours while hunting fish.
3
Sometimes called the 'whale-headed stork'.
4
One of the most sought-after birds by birdwatchers.
5
Their deep booming calls sound like a machine gun.