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. It’s distribution is often close to the presence of papyrus vegetation, and lungfish.Įast Africa – Uganda, Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Botswana and Tanzania. Shoebill inhabit East Africa, in freshwater swamps and marshes of Uganda, Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Botswana and Tanzania.
They are sometimes referred to as ‘ Whalehead‘, for obvious reasons. 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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