Shoebill after landing on tour boat.

Shoebills, which can measure nearly 5 feet and are named for the shape of their enormous beaks, are dinosaur-like and imposing at close quarters.

The accompanying footage, showing a shoebill that had just landed on a tour boat in Mabamba Bay, Uganda, provides a captivating perspective that makes the bird appear truly gargantuan. (The tourist in the boat is trying to capture a selfie.)

“Another unforgettable moment was created today as the shoebill flew onto our boat,” Mabamba Trips stated via Instagram.

Shoebills, though stork-like in appearance, are more closely related to pelicans and herons. They’re globally listed as “vulnerable” and fewer than 8,000 exist throughout their range in tropical central-eastern Africa.

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Mabamba Bay, on Lake Victoria, is a globally recognized Important Bird Area, in which shoebills, along with blue swallows and papyrus gonoleks, are protected.

The shoebill, because of its impressive stature, is a prime attraction for bird enthusiasts who visit the wetland.

A few facts pertaining to shoebills, courtesy of African Parks:

–"Razor-sharp beak: The strange-looking shoebill has a beak that can reach up to approximately 24cm in length and 9cm in width. This enormous beak is used as a very precise fishing tool. The edges of the beak are razor sharp, and can decapitate a very large fish or even a baby crocodile."

–"Blue-eyed beauties: Some shoebills have exotic pale blue eyes that can be very striking."

–"Insurance: Shoebills rarely raise more than one chick. The youngest chick is insurance in case the oldest one doesn’t survive. With limited food supply, parent shoebills typically favor the eldest, ensuring at least one of its offspring survives."

Thankfully, shoebills are typically docile around humans.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Enormous, dinosaur-like bird lands on tour boat in Africa

Reporting by Pete Thomas, For The Win / For The Win

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