Shoebill have specific habitat requirements for breeding, nesting and hunting, and their swamps and marshes are gradually being transformed into agricultural land, or pastures for cattle grazing. The shoebill population is particularly difficult to evaluate with accuracy, due to where they habitat and their elusive nature, but it has declined – with estimates between 5,000 – 8,000 in total.īirdLife International has classified it as vulnerable, due to habitat destruction, disturbance and hunting.
It has broad wings, with an average wingspan between 7.5 – 8.5 feet (2.2 – 2.6m). The shoebill averages between 3.5 – 4.5 feet (1 – 1.4 meters) in height, and weighs between 9 – 15.5 pounds (4 – 7 kg). The shoebill is an extremely tall bird, with long spindly legs, that allows it to stand in the shallows of swamps and on aquatic vegetation, while hunting for food. However, it does occasionally hunt and eat other prey, such as frogs, lizards, watersnakes, snails and rodents. The shoebill is piscivorous, primarily eating fish – in particular lungfish, as well as bichirs, tilapia and catfish. Shoebill were previously thought of as storks, but genetic research has re-classified them as members of the order Pelecaniformes and family Balaenicipitidae, which are large waterbirds, genetically closer to pelicans and herons. Occasionally frogs, snakes, snails, rodents & even baby crocodiles Its distribution is frequently associated with the presence of papyrus vegetation and lungfish.Įast Africa – Uganda, Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Botswana and Tanzania. Shoebills are found in East Africa’s freshwater swamps and marshes, including Uganda, Sudan, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Botswana, and Tanzania.
They are sometimes referred to as ‘ whalehead‘. The shoebill is a large, elusive, stalk-like bird with an almost prehistoric appearance, due to its oversized shoe-shaped beak.
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