People Are Terrified Of Bizarre 5ft-Tall Bird With Frightening Call
Timothy Roberts
It doesn't matter if you are looking at videos of wild animals from the other side of the world or if you are looking at a squirrel in your backyard. They all are interesting to watch. Each of them brings something new to the table, and at times, they may even be more impressive than most would realize.
That is the case with a bird that has now gone viral online in a since-deleted tweet. The bird, which has a body somewhat like a stork, is the Shoebill bird. It lives in swamp areas in East Africa, ranging from Zambia to South Sudan.
Photo: One of the more interesting features of the Shoebill bird is its bill. It looks as if it is wearing a clog shoe on its face, and some people have said it almost looks like a man in a Halloween costume.
Pictures have started showing up online of these incredible birds, and some of them are rather concerning. That includes one of a Shoebill staring directly into the camera. It's enough to send chills down your spine.
As far as birds go, Shoebills are supersized. They have an 8-foot wingspan and stand 5 feet tall. The large feet are punctuated by a big toe that can be up to 7.3 inches. It's little wonder that people are fearful of these creatures.
Photo: Another feature of the bird is the fact that it can stand still for a very long time. They can stand still for hours, not flinching a muscle, making them a good target for those who want to get some excellent pictures.
Something else to consider about the bird is the way that it sounds. The sound is almost like an automatic weapon going off, although I don't know if that would be as frightening to other animals as it is to us.
According to National Geographic, at one time, Shoebills were considered to be in the stork family but they are more closely related to a pelican. They dine on larger fish, such as catfish and eels.
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When these birds breed, they remain monogamous for life. It takes about three or four years before they reach maturity, and during that time, both parents look after the eggs and the growing chicks.
Unfortunately, the number of Shoebills in the wild is dwindling. According to BirdLife Interational, it is estimated that there are between 5,000 and 8,000 still remaining in the world.
