shoebill

[ shoo-bil ]

noun

1. a large, African, storklike bird, Balaeniceps rex, having a broad, flattened bill shaped somewhat like a shoe.

shoebill

/ ˈʃuːˌbɪl /

noun

1. a large wading bird, Balaeniceps rex, of tropical E African swamps, having a dark plumage, a large head, and a large broad bill: family Balaenicipitidae, order Ciconiiformes

Word History and Origins

Origin of shoebill¹

First recorded in 1870–75; shoe + bill ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of shoebill¹

C19: so named because of the shape of its bill

Example Sentences

The Uganda Wildlife Education Center — known to locals as, simply, the zoo — was my mini-safari: behold zebras, hyenas, white rhinos, shoebill storks and three charming chimpanzees.

From New York Times

From the elephant mother watching her malnourished calf die, to the dinosaur-like shoebill bird seemingly deliberately starving a weak younger chick – these were unforgettable shots.

From The Guardian

The shoebill chicks were approximately three weeks old at the time of filming, with one chick a few days older than the other.

From BBC

The shoebill is listed as "Vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's global list of threatened plants and animals.

From BBC

The team's aim was to shed light on the species by documenting intimate behaviour of shoebill parents and young at the nest.

From BBC