Ever since Final Fantasy 14's Shadowbringers expansion, there has been a trend of shoebills appearing; these birds that keep appearing in cutscenes, in-game locations, and can even be found as a minion in Amaurot. Players could not help but take notice, and conversations have erupted across the internet asking "what's the deal with the shoebill?" Even Endwalker had a shoebill scene in its main story, so the bird was not just a one-time wonder for Shadowbringers.
On their own, even outside the game, shoebills are strange creatures. They are ancient birds that can be found in the continent of Africa and are known for their very slow movements and statue-like stillness. Some have called them the most terrifying birds in the world for their sheer size and odd machine-gun-like sounds they make by clattering their bills. They can be seen in ancient Egyptian art, and now they joined the ranks of the creatures of Final Fantasy 14. Spoilers for Final Fantasy: Endwalker ahead.
Shoebill Sightings
Most sightings of the shoebill have been in Shadowbringers. A minion of one is a rare drop from the level 80 dungeon, Amaurot, and its description states that they are common in Kholusia. Like the real bird in Africa, the minion's description also mentions that they hunt by waiting for prey to wander close. The minion itself does not move after the player until they are a good distance away from it, which makes the shoebill unique to most other minions.
The bird can be seen in Kholusia, after going up the lift to the cliff sides. While on the search for a suspicious person in the main story quest, the shoebill can be found on a rock and is described to simply stare blankly at the player. An appearance of the bird happens again in Kholusia when looking for the Crystal Exarch, and the shoebill is described to actually be pointing in a certain direction. A shoebill can also be seen again while the player assists a dwarf shooting targets in Tomra (the bird can be shot but is described to only stare at the player). Under the ocean in The Tempest, a shoebill can be found and Ryne even interacts with it.
Once the player completes Shadowbringers, the bird becomes a permanent part of their room in the Crystarium. Where the shoebill stands in the room changes, sometimes being in the window and other times being on the table. In the events of Endwalker, the shoebill is seen just once in the main story. It is during the players' time in Elpis with Meteion. When Meteion sees the shoebill, she mentions it possibly being new because she has never seen it before. She attempts to read the bird's mind and cannot find anything to read.
Shoebill Theories
A lot of fan theories have sprouted from these shoebill sightings. A popular one is that the bird is somehow connected to Emet-Selch. The minion's flavor text describes the bird as having both a "regal air" and a "condescending one," which matches how Emet-Selch carries himself. Fans believe a connection to Emet-Selch would also make sense, since the bird is dropped in a dungeon made by Emet-Selch himself. Finding the bird in Elpis added another big piece to the puzzle, as Metetion mentioned never seeing it before.
This Endwalker shoebill sighting has gotten many fans on board with the theory that the shoebill is a creation/familiar of Emet-Selchs. The fact that Meteion could not read the bird's mind could be because the bird is dense with aether, like Zodiark. If that is why she could not read the bird's mind, it is also worth pointing out that Emet-Selch got his seat on the convocation particularly for his abundance of aether. This connection to Emet-Selch, players believe, could be a sign that the shoebills act as spies on his behalf. Despite the Ascians' death, he could still be watching over the Warrior of Light through his shoebills.
Besides just possibly being connected to Emet-Selch, there is something to be said about the theme of birds in Final Fantasy 14. Endwalker's final dungeon also has a rare minion drop, the bird form of Meteion. In fact, birds and flying creatures were a favorite of Hermes in Elpis. Meteion, part-bird and part girl, was incredibly important in the expansion and even served as the final boss. If a bird creation from Elpis can do that much, then who is to say that the shoebill will not be as important later on?