![]() ![]() Shoebill Stork in UgandaĪ shoebill stork weighing from 4 kilograms to 7 kilograms is a tall bird with a height ranging from 110 centimeters to 43 centimeters with length ranging from 100 to 140 centimeters between a tail and beak and wings are from 6 ft. John Gould a scientist more knowledgeable in birds describes the bird in 1850 naming it Balaeniceps rex which comes from a Latin word Balena. Shoebill storks are known to be ancient to Egyptians and Arabs which was classified in the 19th century after their skins were taken to Europe for testing. According to bird life international, these fascinating birds have been certified vulnerable due to numerous threats which are practiced by man for example destruction of their habitats, disturbance and being hunted for eggs and meat. Shoebill storks are considered to be one of the most desirable birds to bird watching tourists in Africa. Shoebill storks are mainly found in the tropical areas of East Africa that is Sudan, Uganda, the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and these areas harbor approximately 5,000 – 8,000 individuals of shoebills. While these birds are not remarkable for their grey color, they are quite remarkable and we should strive to safeguard their habitats so that they can continue their reign over the wetlands for many years to come.Shoebill stork is one of the fascinating bird being habited in Uganda that has got quite a number of travelers traversing Uganda in search of the bird. Males and females are both the same color, even the juveniles are grey. Shoebills stay the same color for life, a medium grey with flecks of black on the tips of some feathers. These birds specialize in watching and waiting for lungfish (yes they’re a thing) or frogs to surface for a breath in oxygen-poor water, at which point the birds snatch up their meal in a lightning fast grab with that strong crushing bill. Those territories always include large areas of wetlands where B-rex can hunt. They need to be able to call over long distances because these birds are typically solitary and defend large territories. ![]() So if you find yourself in the swamps of east Aftrica and hear something that sounds like gunfire, it might just be a B-rex caling for a mate or warning away a competitor. While shoebills have a syrinx (the bird equivalent of our voice box), they clap the upper and lower parts of their bill together rapidly to make a ‘machine gun’ sound that is very unique and carries quite far. They also use the large hollow bill as a resonator for sound, but their "call” might not be what you expect. The shoebill stork full#Shoebills keep their eggs cool by scooping their bills full of water and pouring it over the nest. ![]() That giant bill is the stork’s main tool for hunting, but it comes in handy for a number of other uses also. The shoebill is known to ornithologists as Balaenicps rex, or B-rex, meaning ‘the whale-headed king’, a reference to the bird’s most prominent feature. The Shoebill Stork, like all of our modern birds, is descended from a group of dinosaurs called theropods which included the Tyrannosaurus rex. A tall and terrifying bird, many people find the shoebill stork reminiscent of dinosaurs, and for good reason. ![]()
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