Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex)

Shoebills, or whaleheads, are large birds that inhabit the muddy wetlands and swamps of Africa. They are adept fishers that use their massive bills to pluck prey out of the water. Unlike other wading birds, they rely solely on sight when hunting. So, they prefer boggy areas that are low in oxygen, because fish in these waters need to frequently come to the surface to gulp air - where they become visibly exposed. Their large, unique bills allow them to eat larger prey than most birds, and it can be used as a shovel to dig up marbled lungfish. Shoebills are extremely solitary animals, and will choose to build their nests up to 4 miles apart from other shoebills. Said nests are built from aquatic plants, and are usually like a platform that rests in the middle of the swamp. They communicate with each other at the nest by clattering their bills.