![]() Occasionally, a bird reaches five feet in height. An adult is three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half feet tall. The large and scaly feet remind some people of those of a dinosaur. Shoebills are the only member of their genus Balaeniceps, and the only living member of their family, Balaenicipitidae. The animal’s long and thin legs look like stilts and are usually dark in colour. 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. 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. 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 construction can be up to three metres wide. Weight has reportedly ranged from 4 to 7 kg (8.8 to 15.4 lb) A male will weigh on average around 5.6 kg (12 lb) and is larger than a typical female of 4.9 kg (11 lb). Spotting one of these giant dinosaur-like birds on a safari tour is. ![]() The nest is large and flattened, built amid swamp grasses or sedges and usually on a mound of floating vegetation or a small island. Shoebill: Length from tail to beak can range from 100 to 140 cm (39 to 55 in) and wingspan is 230 to 260 cm (7 ft 7 in to 8 ft 6 in). Shoebill storks are found in marshes, wetlands, and swampy areas in eastern Africa. Individuals are highly solitary – often the male and female in a breeding pair prefer to occupy different ends of their shared territory. 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. The taxonomic placement of the shoebill is a matter of some debate.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |