3 species of birds have a preference for eating crocodiles

Shoebills, great blue herons, and eagles are three birds that have a unique preference for eating crocodiles.

1. Shoebill Stork

The Shoebill Stork is named after the unusual shape of its beak, which averages 30 cm in length. This unique bird is native to Africa. It is relatively large, with adults measuring 115–150 cm tall, 100–140 cm long, with a wingspan of 230–260 cm and weighing 4–7 kg.

Shoebills are descendants of small-sized "Theropoda" dinosaurs - the same group as T-Rex dinosaurs.

Their main food is fish, but if given the chance, this stork will also eat crocodiles, fish, lizards, snakes, turtles, and even newborn antelopes.

The shoebill's beak is wide and sturdy, curved into a hook shape, so it can pierce crocodile skin. The extremely sharp edges of the beak can easily tear the flesh of its prey. Therefore, this bird is considered a natural enemy of crocodiles, especially baby crocodiles.

2. Great Blue Heron

The great blue heron is a large bird of the heron genus Ardeidae, with an average height of 1.3 metres, a head-to-tail length of about 1.3 metres, and a spread of over 2 metres.

They typically live in open waters and wetlands in North and Central America.

The Great Blue Heron is a deadly predator. It can eat anything that fits in its beak. The favorite foods of this large bird are fish, shrimp, crabs, insects, mice, other small mammals, frogs, snakes, reptiles. Thanks to its very large beak, esophagus and elastic stomach, the Great Blue Heron can also swallow prey as large as baby crocodiles and baby sharks.

3. Eagle

Eagles are top predators on the food chain, they have virtually no natural enemies when in good health.

The eagle's diet is very diverse, ranging from reptiles, especially monitor lizards, baby crocodiles and snakes, including venomous snakes, to birds, such as chickens and geese.