However, due to stress and unfamiliar environments, the shoebills refuse to mate, depleting the population. Many zoos keep the stork-like birds captive to help them survive. Some are required to hunt the birds to cleanse their land. Many cultures believe shoebills bring bad luck. The birds are vulnerable due to hunting, cultural taboos, and the destruction of their environments. The shoebill stork is an endangered speciesĪccording to the IUCN, there are only 3,300-5,300 mature adults left in the wild, meaning they are nearing extinction. The baby shoebill is removed from the nest once it can hunt and fend for itself.Īlthough they are solitary birds, during the nesting phase both parents participate in the development of their young, from the nest building, feeding, and rearing process. Once the offspring reach about 10 weeks old, they are entirely on their own. They feed their young up to three times a day by regurgitating food. Their offspring leave the nest at 2.5 months oldĪ shoebill stork sits on a nest of eggs that take about 30 days to hatch. The birds separate once the mating season is over. Mating season only happens during the dry season to prevent flooding of nests. It is rare to see two shoebill storks next to each other. They eat alone, live alone, and even when they are paired together, they will still hunt and eat away from one another. Shoebill storks live in solitary and are very territorial. Instead, their nests are dispersed far apart. However, unlike pelicans and herons, they don’t nest in colonies. They are now categorized as a single species to the Balaenicipitidae family. After genetic testing, they were recategorized as Pelecaniformes. They were first categorized under Ciconiiformes along with the black stork and marabou stork. The African shoebill is considered closely related to herons and pelicans. Their bodies are covered in grey feathers, with long thin legs and big feet. That is the same height as actor Gary Coleman – that is one large bird! The shoebill bird can reach a height of 1.4 meters. Their large bills may appear as a cruel joke from nature, but it can be a lethal tool. Their beaks can grow up to a quarter in size of their bodies – up to 22 centimeters in length and 10 centimeters in width. Their favorite food is the lungfish, but they can also eat baby turtles, amphibians, lizards, snakes, and even small crocodiles. The sharp nail is used to catch and eat slippery fish and small animals. The beak is oddly long and broad, with a sharp nail at the end of its mandible. The “shoebill stork” got its name for its prominent beak that is shaped like a shoe. Here are 8 interesting facts to answer your questions. There is a lot more to this awkward bird than the eye can see – or hear. In disregard of their heavy weight and portion, these birds are shy creatures. 8 Interesting Facts About Shoebill Storks Adults produce loud repetitive sounds as a form of communication. When shoebill chicks solicit food, their sound is similar to a human with hiccups. These are quick repetitive bursts sounding like a machine gun, or tribal drums beating.
The shoebill produces its sound by clapping the lower jaw and upper jaw of its bill together, producing a loud hollow sound. However, to a mate, it’s the main attraction during nesting season. This sound is loud and frankly quite freaky. The birds release a loud interjection making a bill-clattering display to attract a partner. It sounds similar to hippopotamus’ call but on steroids. The time when they do make noise is mating time. They are masters of patience and can stand in the water like statues for endless hours – waiting for their next prey to swim by. Shoebills don’t make much noise and are usually silent birds. Spotting one of these giant dinosaur-like birds on a safari tour is undoubtedly a must-see. Shoebill storks are found in marshes, wetlands, and swampy areas in eastern Africa. The shoebill stork, also known as the whale-headed stork, or shoe-billed stork, is a big grey bird scientifically named as Balaeniceps Rex. This gigantic bird looks as though it came from some prehistoric dinosaur time. Well, listening to a shoebill stork’s mating call sure gives you the chance to hear one.
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