Birds · Pelecaniformes · Balaenicipitidae
Shoebill
Balaeniceps rex
It faces a high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term. See full glossary
The shoebill is a pelecaniform bird, the only member of the family Balaenicipitidae and of the genus Balaeniceps. Its common name refers to the shape of its enormous bill. It has a general form somewhat like a stork's and was formerly classified with the storks in the order Ciconiiformes on that basis. Genetic evidence, however, places it with the pelicans and herons in the Pelecaniformes. The adult is mainly grey, while juveniles are browner. It lives in tropical East Africa in large swamps from South Sudan to Zambia.
Weight
6 kg on average
Lifespan
35 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Moderate
Estimated population
Between 3,300 and 5,300 mature individuals, in continued decline
Fun facts
- GeneralIts enormous clog-shaped bill decapitates lungfish and young crocodiles.
- comportamientoIt can stand completely still for hours, waiting for a fish to surface for air before striking.
- It hunts by ambush, motionless as a statue for hours, and succeeds in around 60 % of its strikes; its favourite prey is the African lungfish.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
- Habitat & environment
- Papyrus marsh and swampy wetland
- Sexual maturity
- 3 years
- Gestation / incubation
- About 30 days of incubation, shared by both parents
- Litter / clutch size
- 1-3 eggs, usually two, of which normally only one survives
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balaeniceps_rex
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapBest time: The dry season, when falling water levels concentrate the fish in the papyrus swamps of Uganda and Zambia
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Shoebill — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
African Dwarf Crocodile
Osteolaemus tetraspis
Wattled Crane
Bugeranus carunculatus
Southern Ground-Hornbill
Bucorvus leadbeateri
Nile Monitor
Varanus niloticus
Giant Bullfrog
Pyxicephalus adspersus
Hamerkop
Scopus umbretta
How to help
The shoebill is classified as vulnerable. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 4 real protected areas — part of why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about shoebill.
Comments
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