Stature

The average male human is between 5 and 6 feet tall, and while we may tower over other species, the African Shoebill can grow up to 5 feet tall, which is taller than most young people today. Not only is there frightening height a factor to be scared of, but it is also their 7 foot wingspan. The Shoebill uses this immense stature to scare off the few predators that would mistake the bird for an easy snack. However, because of their large wingspan, they only flap their wings about 150 times per minute, making it one of the slowest wing speeds of any bird today.