Shoebill can survive more than 35 years in the wild. Shoebill becomes sexually mature at age of three to four years. Only three nests can be found per one square kilometer.
Unlike storks, pelicans, and herons, shoebill does not nest in colonies. They are dependent on the food provided by parents even when they start hunting on their own, at age of three and a half months. Young birds are brown at birth, and they are not able to stand on their feet until the age of two and a half months. They will hatch after 30 days-long incubation. Mating season is usually associated with onset of dry season, to prevent flooding of the nests. Young birds can produce hiccup-like sound when they are hungry. Adult birds usually produce sounds by clapping the bills during nesting season. Shoebill is "quiet" most of the time, but it can produce sound that is used for communication. Not only is the beak deadly, sharp, and oddly shape. Shoebill is solitary animal that gathers only for mating and taking care of the young. These birds are quite large, and can easily stand over 4 feet tall Their most distinguishing characteristic is their distinctive bill, which is shaped almost exactly like a shoe The bill has a sharp, curved tip and sharp edges to kill and decapitate prey. Before swallowing, shoebill with cut the prey in half with its sharp bill.
When shoebill detects the prey, it uses incredible speed, accuracy and power to catch it. Shoebill eats different types of fish, amphibians, lizards, snakes, rats and even baby crocodiles. Because of that, it is often called "statue-like" bird. It is an ambush predator, which can stay silent for very long period of time while waiting for the prey to appear. It ends with a nail-like hook, which is used for killing of the prey. It is large and shaped like a shoe, which is the reason why the bird is named "shoebill".īeak is 9 inches long and 4 inches wide. The most prominent feature on the shoebill's body is its beak. Shoebill has strong neck, long legs and broad wings. It can be almost 5 feet tall, 4 feet long, reaching 1.5 pounds in weight.īody of shoebill is covered with bluish-grey plumage. Number of shoebill is decreased due to habitat loss, destruction of nests, increased hunting and because of the pet trade. Weight has reportedly ranged from 4 to 7 kg (8.8 to 15.4 lb). Length from tail to beak can range from 100 to 140 cm (39 to 55 in) and wingspan is 230 to 260 cm (7 ft 7 in to 8 ft 6 in). Shoebill is listed as vulnerable species, with no more than 8000 birds left in the wild. The shoebill is a tall bird, with a typical height range of 110 to 140 cm (43 to 55 in) and some specimens reaching as much as 152 cm (60 in).
Shoebill prefers life in tropical dense marshes, swamps and wetlands. This beautiful bird can be found only in eastern parts of Africa, all the way from Sudan to Zambia. Shoebill is also known as Whale-head or Shoe-billed Stork. The reason lays in the fact that shoebill has features that are characteristic for genetically unrelated types of birds such as storks, pelicans, hamerkop and herons. Shoebill is a type of bird that cannot be easily classified.
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