The Shoebill is a species of bird. It looks a bit like a stork, that's why it's also called a Shoe-billed Stork - but it's not really a stork. Actually, the internal structure of the Shoebill is closer to that of the Pelicans, but it is not a species of Pelican, either. Its biochemical structure, on the other hand, can be compared to that of Herons. Even still, it's not a type of Heron. Needless to say, the Shoebill is its own species - but it's a very special kind of bird - because it has the qualities of many other types of birds. As its name suggests, it is indeed "shoe-billed." Simply put, it has a bill or a beak that's shaped like a shoe. This is true whether you look at its beak in the front view or side view. Now you know why it's called a Shoebill, but there's more to know about this amazing bird - as you are about to see in this book.