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It tends to be slow-moving, except in the moment of collapsing on its prey with lightning speed.It spends a great deal of time motionless! While it may perch or roost in trees, it is more often in or near water.Shoebills are diurnal, and only occasionally hunt at night if the moonlight is bright enough.The shoebill’s wings are well suited for soaring they are strong enough to enable the bird to lift off near vertically. Its unusual large, splotchy bill has sharp edges, which help in the swift decapitation of prey, and also in separating out vegetation that may have been collected with the fish.The eyes are very piercing and are yellowish or greyish white. They have soft, doe-like blue eyes, a genetic mutation found in certain populations.A soothing combination of blue-gray, dark gray, and slate colour make up most of its plumage.Shoebills are large-bodied, sturdy animals. Its big, bulbous bill serves many purposes – its a handy container for fish prey, as well as water to douse its eggs or chicks.The species is named for its clog-shaped bill, which is an adaptation for catching and holding the large, slippery lungfish.The head is large in proportion to the body, and the eyes are also exceptionally large.
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They are entirely gray, with broad wings and long legs.Shoebills stand about 115 cm (3.8 feet) tall.They share traits with storks and herons, like the long necks and legs characteristic of wading birds, though their closest relatives are the pelicans. A captive Shoebill in Uganda named Sushi has displayed similar behaviour, and when the greeting is not reciprocated, Sushi flies away. In order to approach the Hippogriff without serious injury, one must bow to it before approaching. The Hippogriff as described in the Harry Potter books is a proud, flesh-eating, eagle-horse hybrid with a sensitive and noble character. When kept in captivity the shoebill has been known to display similar behaviour to the mythical Hippogriff in Harry Potter. this rare bird might very well have walked out of the dinosaur era, just as it is. The Shoebill stork looks more like something out of a fantasy novel. Deep in the remote, dense swamps of Africa lives an unusual bird with a shoe for a face.