The shoebill stork bird doesn’t have webbed feet but they can still have the ability to stalk the prey in water because they stand still for long periods awaiting the movements of the prey and then strike at a high speed. Although the shoebill storks are water birds, they tend to be nocturnal. Because of the sharp edges on their wide bill it helps them to feed on water animals. The shoe bill storks can stand easily on floating vegetation while hunting and they survive on food in water including lungfish which is their main diet, frogs, lizards, the baby crocodiles, water snakes, puddle fish, cat fish among others. The shoe bill storks in Uganda are found along the lakes and in the swamp areas hence referred to as swamp specialists. After hatching the female or mother feed the chicks for one to two months before they adapt to feeding themselves. The female shoebill stork lay two eggs and during the incubation process, both the male and female parents share the incubation duties for one month before the chicks hatch. The shoebill stork can live between 45 to 50 years or more and make their nests on the ground where the eggs hatch from. The prehistoric-looking shoebill stork bird is a solitary creature with territories and can be so protective of its territories and forms monogamous relationships during the mating season which takes place between April and June. The male shoebill storks are a little larger and have bigger bill than the females and the bill of a mature adult is about 9 inches long, 4 inches wide with a hook at its tip. An adult shoebill stork has feathers that are mainly grey in color while the juveniles are browner in color the shoe bill stork grows up to 150cm tall in height, 14 pounds in weight, 24cm in length, 20cm in width and 230cm to 260cm wingspan. It was named the shoebill stork because of its shoe-like bill. Shoebill stork is a large outstanding bird with a shoe-shaped bill that is mostly found in the Eastern parts of Africa and is always sought after by the bird lovers on a safari in Africa especially in Uganda. What makes the Shoebill Stork bird Unique

Uganda is a home of different bird species apart from the shoebill stork that inhabits in the national parks including Queen Elizabeth national park with over 600 species, Bwindi impenetrable national park with over 350 species, Murchison falls national park with over 450 species, Lake Mburo national park with over 350 species, Rwenzori national park with over 217 species, Kidepo national park with over 450 species, Mount Elgon national park with over300 species, Semliki national with over 400 species, Mgahinga national park with over 115 species and Kibale national park with over 370 species, some these bird species are endemic to the Albertine rift hence cannot be found anywhere which make Uganda a birders paradise in Africa to the birding safaris because it is a habitat of half of Africa’s bird species.

Besides being sighted in Uganda the shoebill stork can also be viewed in Kenya, south western Ethiopia, Northern Cameroon, Botswana, Upper Congo River, Sudan, and Zambia among others. Due to peace, safety, security and easy accessibility of the birding locations, Uganda is considered the best destination in Africa for sighting the shoebill stork bird. The shoebill stork can be sighted in different areas in Uganda including Mabamba swamp along lake Victoria close to Entebbe or Kampala, Murchison falls national park along the banks of the Nile River in the Delta area, Ishasha sector in the southern end of Lake Edward in Queen Elizabeth national park, Lugogo swamp in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Lake Mburo national park, Semliki national park close to lake Albert and also in Nabajuzi swamp in Masaka district. Uganda is home to a variety of bird species and wildlife and is the best destination I East Africa where you can see the shoebill stork while on a safari.

Shoebill stork is also referred to as the king whale-head because of its head size and the Arabs used to call it (Abu Maruk) which means the father of the shoe and another one could call it a flying shoe because of its unique bill. Shoebill stork is a magnificent, unique, prehistoric, ancient-looking bird that is sought after by visitors in Africa specifically Uganda.

Shoebill stork sound