In this clip from the BBC’s documentary Africa, narrated by David Attenborough, two shoebill chicks compete for their mother’s attention – revealing a dark side to the sibling rivalry.
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The shoebill is one of the weirdest and most impressive bird species in the world – it can stand still like a statue for hours, and its call is unnervingly similar to the clattering of a machine gun. Its beak is also one of the deadliest in the animal kingdom.
The shoebill is an opponent not to be messed with – and this is even true for the small and vulnerable chicks.
“This chick is just three weeks old and a little bit wobbly on its feet. Its vast bill means it has trouble balancing. It won’t be able to fly or even walk properly for several weeks,” narrates Attenborough. “It’s entirely reliant on its parents for food and water.”
In the video, the chick stares up curiously at its mother, not looking particularly threatening. That is, until it’s left alone with its younger, weaker sibling, which looks a bit worse for wear, its plumage a bit more matted.
“It’s three days older than the other chick and has always won the race for food and attention,” says Attenborough.
The larger chick starts pestering the mother for a drink, and so off she goes.
"While she goes off to fetch water, it reveals a dark side to the relationship with its nest mate," narrates Attenborough.
The larger chick attacks the sibling with its beak, the smaller bird entirely at its mercy.
“This is more than just a scrap between two siblings,” notes Attenborough.
And unfortunately, once the mother shoebill returns, she makes a choice – only the first-born will get a drink.
Top image: close-up of a shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) showing its unique prehistoric beak and intense yellow eyes in Mabamba Swamp, Uganda. Credit: Jeff Kingma/Getty Images
