5/6/2023 0 Comments Shoebill stork size vs human![]() ![]() Shoebills can stay motionless for hours, so when a hapless lungfish comes up for air, it might not notice this lethal prehistoric-looking bird looming until it’s too late. They also have long, thin legs with large feet that are ideal for walking on the vegetation in the freshwater marshes and swamps they inhabit in East Africa, from Ethiopia and South Sudan to Zambia. Reaching up to five feet tall with an eight-foot wingspan, shoebills have yellow eyes, gray feathers, white bellies, and a small feathered crest on the back of their heads. It even snacks on baby crocodiles and Nile monitor lizards.Īt first glance, shoebills don’t seem like they could be ambush predators. ![]() Its specialized bill allows the shoebill to grab large prey, including lungfish, tilapia, eels, and snakes. Tan with brown splotches, it's five inches wide and has sharp edges and a sharp hook on the end. What makes the aptly named shoebill so unique is its foot-long bill that resembles a Dutch clog. Its eyelids have adapted with tiny holes in them, allowing the Great Potoo to see everything at all times, even with its eyes closed.ĭid we miss any other scary birds? If you want to see these scary species (and some beautiful species too) in person, visit our website to view our birding tours.Current Population Trend: Decreasing What is a shoebill?ĭepending on your perspective, a shoebill either has the same goofy charm as the long-lost dodo or it looks like it might go on the attack any moment. At night, the Great Potoo’s distinct and unsettling call permeates forests across Central and South America as it hunts for rodents. The Great Potoo is a nocturnal species that spends its days camouflaging itself while perching on tree branches. ![]() If a stolen fish isn’t filling enough, the Great Skua will kill and eat other bird species such as puffins and gulls. When hunger hits, skuas don’t hesitate to violently attack other birds and steal their catch. Though they may not look as scary as the others on our list, Great Skuas are equally terrifying for their violent personalities. Reputed as the world’s most dangerous bird, Cassowaries are very difficult to keep in zoos because of frequent attacks on zookeepers. Though from afar the Cassowary may seem harmless, when disturbed by humans it responds by violently attacking with kicking and clawing - often until killing its victim. Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)įound in the Australian rainforest, Cassowaries are shy and solitary birds that feed on fruit. The huge wingspan of the Andean Condor allows it to soar for long periods of time without flapping its wings.ĥ. Like most vultures its head and neck are almost featherless, but in addition the Andean Condor’s skin changes color in response to its emotional state. ![]() The Andean Condor is a national symbol of Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Colombia. Reports of children being killed by Marabous are not unheard of in its native southern Africa. The Marabou Stork will eat anything it can get its claws into – including human garbage such as shoes – and if harassed will lash out. Like many storks, the Marabou is a scavenger, and it’s strange, featherless head is an adaptation to avoid messy plumage when feeding on animal carcasses. Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus)Ĭapable of growing to a massive 66 inches, the powerful Marabou Stork towers over other bird species. Its strong hooked beak is the ideal tool for ripping into tough carcasses, giving the King Vulture an advantage over other scavengers.ģ. The King Vulture, found from Mexico to Argentina, lives up to its name as king of the scavenger birds. Shoebills can grow up to 55 inches (around 4 ½ feet) tall and use their huge bills to hunt for snacks such as lungfish, snakes, and even baby crocodiles. The Shoebill Stork, also called the Whalehead Stork, is found in East-Central Africa. In the spirit of Halloween, we've compiled a list of the seven creepiest bird species we could find, from species that are vicious and violent to those that are just plain scary to look at. ![]()
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