2021 DRC Shoebill Stork

If Sesame Street was rebooted as a horror movie, the Shoebill Stork would fill the role of Big Bird. The unblinking yellow eyes pierce the soul, the dagger-like beak pierces the body, and the machine gun call it makes is just unsettling. If you think we made this thing up because we were out of ideas, do a quick google search and you'll see that the Shoebill Stork is not only real, but pretty scary.

The Shoebill's silly name belies its prowess as a hunter. A full grown adult can grow up to 5 feet tall with a wingspan of 8 feet. They are excellent fliers, but when hunting they prefer an on the ground approach, patiently stalking their prey - which consists of fish, frogs, snakes, and even small crocodiles - and are known to stand motionless for long periods of time. At the opportune moment, they violently attack using their sharp-edged beak. Their methodical approach and physical domination results in a high kill rate.

There are a lot of bird coins out there already, but none quite like this one.

Fun facts about Shoebill Storks!

1. Shoebills get their name because their bills look like shoes!
2. The tips of their beaks are very sharp and used to cut prey in half and can even decapitate them.
3. A fully-grown shoebill is around 4 feet long and 5 feet tall.
4. A shoebill’s wingspan can be up to five times larger than its body.
5. They are infamous for their machine gun sounds their bills make when they click them together.
6. Shoebills can live to be up to 35 years old.
7. They can be known to attack each other, especially when they’re young.
8. They can attack and even eat crocodiles, but prefer monitor lizards, eels, and lungfish.
9. They prefer to be alone - The shoebill builds its nest around 3km away from other nests.
10. Shoebills are vulnerable and almost endangered.  The shoebill cools down using its own poop.