Balaeniceps rex

Shoebill

Shoebill

Shoe-billed Stork (Balaeniceps rex)

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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. It lives in tropical east Africa in large swamps from Sudan to Zambia.

Duck bill

Shoebill Stork. hehe

My second attempt to paint this primaeval looking stork-like bird. I’m very fascinated by it looks, especially her eyes, facial structure and, of course, by the huge bill. Just look at her character! It is really captivating, isn’t it? This time I made a warm underpainting, using acryla-gouache and layered the normal gouache on top of it. It was done alla prima, just like my previous Scarlet macaw painting.

The shoebill stork is an impressive and somewhat ugly dinosaur-like bird that is found in Uganda. In the post, you'll learn 15 shoebill stork facts, including diet, population, sibling behavior, sounds, lifespan, foot size and more.