The global population is currently estimated at between 5,000-8,000 birds and the species is classed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Although it is widely accepted that a small group of theropod dinosaurs gave rise to birds, finding feathered dinosaurs in the fossil record that predate the. The Shoebill is undergoing a continuing decline owing to the effects of habitat destruction and degradation, pollution, nest disturbance, hunting, and capture for the live bird trade. The breeding season varies, being dependent on Africa’s seasonal flood cycle. The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) also known as whalehead, whale-headed stork, or shoebill stork, is a very large stork-like bird. Although a clutch of up to three dull, chalky-white eggs is laid, typically only one nestling survives due to inter-sibling rivalry, where the larger (generally first born) chick will out-compete and/or kill its siblings. The Shoebill uses its beak to eat large lungfish, its food of choice, along with turtles, and oh yeah, young crocodiles. The construction can be up to three metres wide.
They may be big, but they can fly if they want to. The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) also known as whalehead, whale-headed stork, or shoe-billed stork, is a very large stork-like bird. Here are seven reasons to love this big bird: 1. The nest is large and flattened, built amid swamp grasses or sedges and usually on a mound of floating vegetation or a small island. Despite his prehistoric appearance and the craziness that is his proportions, the shoebill stork is actually quite endearing if you bother to dig a little deeper. Individuals are highly solitary – often the male and female in a breeding pair prefer to occupy different ends of their shared territory. Out of more than 1,000 bird species in Uganda, you can. chewer shoebill shoebillstork shoebillbird birdphotography dinosaur. Uganda birding safaris are not limited to the shoebill stork but also offer a lot more species of birds.
I bet you could smell one approaching though. This large birdit’s 5 feet talllooks like it would be right at home living amongst the dinosaurs. Since it shares features with storks, pelicans, hamerkop, and herons, it is rather difficult to classify. This large waterbird is unmistakable due to its unique ‘shoe-shaped’ bill which gives it an almost prehistoric appearance – reminding us of birds’ dinosaur ancestry.įound in nine countries across Africa the species has a large range, but exists in small localised populations concentrated around swamps and wetlands. Instagram photos and videos from Shoebill Stork community (shoebill). Shoebill storks are birds avian dinosaurs that survived the Chicxulub Meteor (65 million years ago) evolved and speciated, but that took a long time. This bird, also called the shoe-billed stork or whale-headed stork, isn’t really a stork.