They remain motionless, as herons, waiting for their prey and once it appears they attack with speed, power and precision. Their most common prey is primarily lungfish, nevertheless they consume a large variety of animals including baby crocodiles, frogs, water snakes, rats, etc. In these waters fish have to surface more often and as a result hunting becomes much easier. Shoebills are carnivorous birds, usually hunting in swallow, muddy waters with their favorite spots being waters that have little oxygen. Males and females are pretty much similar in color and appearance, with the main difference being that males are slightly larger and have longer bills. Shoebills in captivity have been reported to live more than 30 years and it is believed that they can potentially exceed 50 years of age under optimal conditions.Īdult shoebills are predominantly grey in color, with a few white tufts in the back of their head (see image below). Their legs are long and skinny. Legs are long and skinny, a typical trait among wading birds. It has an average length of 30 cm (12 inches) featuring a major hook at the tip. Their beak is, as mentioned before, is shoe-shaped, tan in color and many times accompanied by dark blotches. Some sources report a population size of between 5,000 and 8,000, but the figures are rather understated. The world population of shoebills ranges from 11,000 to 15,000 individuals. Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), whalehead, whale-headed stork, shoe-billed stork Shoebill interesting facts. Shoebills weigh from 4 up to 7 kg (8.8-15.5 pounds). The average lifespan of a shoebill: 36 years. Their wings are very powerful and have a span of 230–260 cm (91–125 inches). Here, they can be found in areas like the Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo national park, the Queen Elizabeth national park and more.Shoebills are very large stork-like birds with the adults being 115–150 cm (45–60 inches) tall, with a length ranging anywhere from 100 to 140 cm (40–55 inches). The largest population of wild shoebills live in Uganda where a record of 1000. While the shoebill is called a stork, genetically speaking it is more closely related to the pelican or heron families. In addition, the big bird doesn’t migrate and has very limited seasonal movement due to food availability, habitat changes, and human disturbances. Although there have been sightings of the stork in the surrounding countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and more. They can be found in Southern Sudan, Western Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and the Northern parts of Zambia. They are predominantly found in the freshwater swamps of the central and eastern countries. The shoebill is endemic to Africa, meaning the bird is regularly found there. Shoebills live in African countries such as Uganda and Rwanda Commonly, the larger birds will force the smaller bird, its own offspring, to flee from the nest and live independently. As a result, when more than one is born in the same nest, the birds have been known to compete with each other for their mother’s attention. As they are solitary creatures, shoebills prefer to be alone and therefore have territorial behaviors. This is more common than you think among larger birds. Young shoebill storks will often attack each other And it is this sharp curve that is used to pierce through the bodies of their prey, which can sometimes be other birds. The tip of their beak curves down to form a hook. Facts about the Shoebill Stock bird : The shoebill stork also scientifically called Balaeniceps rex is one of the best bird species in Africa and certainly. The shape of their beak has evolved all stork species to assist them in eating small fish and other animals in a single gulp. And as a result, it was given the name ‘shoebill’, and resembles that of a baleen whale hence the nickname ‘Whalehead.’ The bird’s beak is the 3rd longest out of any species in the world, stretching up 24cm in length and 20cm in width it can be more than a quarter the size of their bodies.

Shoebill stork facts