Shoebill Storks           

Only a few zoos in the world have shoebills, so the Houston Zoo's addition of this young pair of big African birds is a significant achievement for our bird department. Named after their prominent shoe-shaped bills, shoebills are a vulnerable bird species whose feathers turn completely gray as they mature. Their large heads, eyes, and bills help them find food in muddy swamps. Shoebills can grow as tall as five feet, boast a nearly eight-foot wingspan, and weigh up to fifteen pounds. Despite their large size, relatively little is known about their habits in the wild. While some taxonomists consider them to be in the stork family, many others believe the believe the birds are more closely related to pelicans.