Facts about the shoe bill stock
The Shoe bill stock is huge, grey water bird, also known as a whale-headed stork. It derives its name Shoe bill (Balaeniceps rex), from its massive bill, which resembles a traditional Dutch clog, with a sharp nail-like hook on the end. These bills are very powerful and have a sharp hook on the end, helping them to catch their prey. Studies suggest that it belongs alongside pelicans in the order pelicaniformes. The shoe bill’s population is between 5,000-8,000 in Africa. The shoe bill is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN red list of threatened species, mainly because of it’s loss of habitat and poaching. These birds are quite magnificent and worth a visit to the places where they are found. Add at least one of the shoe bill habitats to your itinerary as you plan your Uganda safari for the experience is unforgettable.
These are some the facts of the shoe bill stock.
- A shoe bill’s broad wings may span up to 7.7-8.6ft (230-260cm) from tip to tip. It’s flapping rate of approximately 150 flaps per minute and is among the slowest of any bird.
- Shoe bills are specialist predators of lungfish. Papyrus reed beds are their preferred nesting habitats and are ultimate fans of large, rich, dense marshes, wetlands, and swamps. Examples are Mabamba swamp along the showers of lake Victoria, Uganda wildlife education center, Murchison falls and Ziwa rhino sanctuary the best places to witness a special sighting of one.
- A Shoe bill often benefits from living alongside hippos. These huge amphibious mammals bulldoze channels through papyrus swamps, allowing shoe bills access to otherwise inaccessible feeding areas. They also force fish to the surface, making them easier for the bird to capture.
- Shoebills take a wide variety of prey in addition to fish, including frogs, snails, water snakes, turtles, water birds and baby crocodiles.
- A shoe bill may hatch two or more chicks, but can raise at least more than one.
- These amazing birds grow to up to 150 cm tall.
- Their life span in the wild is 35years
- Height is 43-55 inches (110-140 cm)
- Length from tail to beak is 39-55 inches (100-140 cm)
- Their weight is 11-12 lbs. (4.9-5.4 Kg).
- Gestation period is 30 days.
- Shoe bill stocks tend to be nocturnal. Although they are primarily water birds, they do not have webbed feet, but can still stealthily stalk their prey in the water.
- They are mostly solitary birds and have territories of which they can be quite protective.
- They are normally silent birds but can perform bill clattering displays at their nests.
- They usually seem sluggish on the ground, but are graceful in the air and when attacking their prey they pull back their wings and approach their prey in a way demonstrating their strength.
Enjoy timeless scenic views and birding experience in Uganda. See a variety of bird species including the fascinating Shoe-billed stock in some of Uganda’s birding destination like; In the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth Park along the Lake Edward Flats, in Murchison Falls national Park, at the Delta, where the Nile merges with Lake Albert, Lake Mburo National Park, Ziwa Rhino Reserve, Lake Kyoga, Semiliki Wildlife reserve, Mabamba Swamp close to Entebbe, Lweera swamp/Lukaya and in the Nabajuzi Swamp in Masaka.
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