The biggest threat to this interesting bird is humans. The available data indicate that the population of the shoebill is decreasing. According to the IUCN Redlist, shoebill storks are considered as a vulnerable species. Although, it is hard to have the exact number of living shoebills because of their mysterious and elusive nature since they set up nests in hard-to-reach areas for humans. The population of shoebills is estimated to be around 5000 in the entire world. In Uganda, you can see these rare birds in Murchison Falls National Park, Mabamba swamp, Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, and Lake Mburo National Park. The shoebill tends to inhabit around freshwater swamps, wetlands and marshlands. Amazing facts – The Shoebill is endemic to East and Central African, countries of Uganda, DRC, Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia and South Sudan. Such a meditative and yet cunning hunter.

It is said that a shoebill can stand motionless for hours while holding their bills close to their necks. A shoebill spends most of the time standing, hidden and watching out for its prey. The male and female bow to each other as a display of their courtship.The shoebill can fly but not for a long period of time considering it can only flap its wings 150 times a minute (Slowest rate of any bird).

It will make a resounding clapping-like sound attracting the said female while simultaneously scaring away any competitors and other small animals. This is most evidenced in the mating season when the male adult picks out its mate. However, when it does make a sound, it is indeed ground shaking. It is a quiet animal and can go for days without making any noise or sounds except for the flapping of its wings. The bigger chicks often pick on the smaller ones especially when the mother is way, and this often drives the defeated bird to live outside of the family. They fight each other off until the weakest chick is pushed out. It is the real survival for the fittest in the shoebill’s nest. The chicks of a shoe bill are known for being insanely competitive. It usually only comes together for mating, building the nesting area and incubating the eggs. It’s such a very quiet and solitary bird. A shoebill stork becomes sexually active at 3 to 4 years of age. Amazing facts -The shoebill stork can live for more than 35 years in the wild. This means they are more closely related to the pelicans, anhingas and gannets than to the storks. These are a family of medium to large-sized water birds. This means that when a shoebill spreads its wings, it has a bigger wingspan.Īlthough it is called a shoebill stork, it is a member of the taxonomic order of Pelecaniformes. The shoebill wings can spread up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) and can flap about 150 times per minute. The legs are slender and black in colour, very long, with such very large feet. The beak is almost 10 inches long, deadly and used for both feeding and protecting itself. The beak of the shoebill is curved at the tip and has very sharp edges with which the bird uses to cut through its food.

Its most outstanding feature is the shoe-shaped bill and its greyish colour.

Shoebill – stork-Amazing facts – The shoebill can be as tall as 4.5 feet and weigh up to 7 kilograms. Amazing facts – Uganda Birding Safaris- Bird tours. The shoebill looks mean and a little prehistoric compared to other species in the same bird Shoebill stork. With its big ‘shoe-like’ bill, the shoebill a marvel to see. If you have only seen pictures of it, it might look a little unreal until `you have jumped onto that canoe boat with your amazing camera and encounter this rare bird species first hand. Shoebill-stork-Amazing facts – Uganda Birding Safaris– Bird tours. Amazing facts- Uganda Birding Safaris- Bird tours.

Baby shoebill noise