Shoebill
NameShoebill
Common NameShoebill
Scientific NameBalaeniceps rex
FamilyBalaenicipitidae
Wingspan (cm)245
Length (cm)125
Weight (g)5500
Plumage DetailsAdults are predominantly slate-grey, with darker flight feathers and a slightly paler underside. Juveniles have a browner tinge to their plumage.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent, but performs loud bill-clattering during nesting and greeting displays. They can also produce hooting, whining, and cow-like mooing sounds.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatsfreshwater swamps, marshes, wetlands, floodplains
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeFound in East-central Africa, primarily in large freshwater swamps and marshes from South Sudan and Ethiopia south through Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania, and west into parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
Identifying FeaturesMassive, shoe-shaped bill, Large size (tall and heavy), Slate-grey plumage, Yellow eyes, Slow, deliberate movements
Description
The Shoebill is a very large, stork-like bird with a distinctive shoe-shaped bill. It is a solitary and patient hunter, often standing motionless for long periods in shallow waters, waiting for prey.
