Shoebill
Balaeniceps rex
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="shoebill"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/shoebill/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/shoebill/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/shoebill/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="shoebill"></birdfyi-bird>حول
The shoebill is one of the most sought-after birds for birdwatchers visiting Africa, prized for its prehistoric appearance and massive bill. It can stand motionless for hours before collapsing forward to seize prey in its enormous bill. Despite standing over a meter tall, shoebills weigh relatively little due to their hollow bones.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Body Length | 120,0 cm | 47.2 in |
| طول الجناح | 240,0 cm | 94.5 in |
| الوزن | 5500,0 g | 194.01 oz |
التعرف
الريش
Blue-grey plumage overall with a slightly darker back and wings. Powder down gives a washed-out appearance. Small tuft on the back of the head.
المنقار
Massive shoe-shaped bill, one of the largest of any bird — pale yellowish-grey with darker markings
Habitat & Range
Freshwater swamps dominated by papyrus and other dense aquatic vegetation in tropical East Africa.
النطاق الجغرافي
Central and East Africa from South Sudan and Ethiopia south to Zambia. Largest populations in South Sudan and Uganda.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily lungfish, also catfish, water snakes, monitor lizards, and baby crocodiles. Hunts by standing motionless, then lunging with its entire body.
حالة الحفاظ
السلوك والتكاثر
التعشيش
Nest type: M. Incubation: 30 days. Fledging: 95-105 days.
عدد البيض في الوضع
1-3
الصوت
الغناء
Largely silent; produces mechanical bill-clattering 'clap-clap-clap' when greeting at the nest — similar to White Stork. Also gives low croaking grunts. Rarely calls in the wild.
التصنيف
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| الرتبة | Pelecaniformes (Pelicans & Herons) |
| الفصيلة | Balaenicipitidae (Shoebill) |
| Genus | Balaeniceps |
| الأنواع | Balaeniceps rex |
Distribution
Shoebill has been recorded in 1 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted