Balaenicipitidae is a

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

of birds in the order

Pelecaniformes The Pelecaniformes are an order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. As traditionally—but erroneously—defined, they encompass all birds that have feet with all four toes webbed. Hence, they were formerly also known by such n ...

, although it was traditionally placed in

Ciconiiformes Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family called Ciconiidae, and make up the order Ciconiiformes . Ciconiiformes previously included a number of other families, such as herons a ...

. The

shoebill The shoebill (''Balaeniceps rex'') also known as the whalebill, whale-headed stork or shoe-billed stork, is a very large long-legged wading bird. It derives its name from its enormous shoe-shaped bill. It has a somewhat stork-like overall form ...

is the sole extant species and its closest relative is the

hamerkop The hamerkop (''Scopus umbretta'') is a medium-sized wading bird. It is the only living species in the genus ''Scopus'' and the family Scopidae. The species and family was long thought to sit with the Ciconiiformes but is now placed with the ...

(''Scopus umbretta''), which belongs to another family. It has the following genera: *'' Balaeniceps'' *†''

Goliathia ''Goliathia'' is an extinct genus of bird. The holotype is an ulna recovered from lower beds of the Jebel Qatrani Formation in Faiyum Governorate in Egypt. Initially thought to be a heron, an additional bone, a tarsometatarsus The tarsometatars ...

'' (might belong in ''Balaeniceps'') *†'' Paludiavis''

Common characteristics

A sharp hooked tip to the upper beak A furrow in the upper beak below the nasal openings An ossified septum Vestigial or absent expansor secundariorum muscle

References

Bird families Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte {{bird-stub