![]() These birds face a lot of resentment from some communities where they are considered to be a sign of a bad omen. The decrease of these birds has been mostly due to the destruction of their habitat leaving them with nowhere to stay. These birds are extremely solitary birds therefore, it might be difficult to spot them. Shoebill storks are a critically endangered species today. This enables it to have great speed especially when it is running. ![]() The body of a shoebill is also very robust, especially around its neck. The shoebill is a tall bird of about 1 to 1.4 meters with tall legs which enable it to move fast. How Fast Can A Shoebill Run?Ī shoebill has an average speed of about 20 to 30 mph (35 to 48 kph). When all the unwanted material is gone and is left with the prey, they start crushing from the head. The shoebills move their bills up and down and sideways in a bid to get rid of the mud which is together with the prey. When they notice there is prey nearby, they surge forward slowly and opening their large bill, they catch the prey together with any mud which was surrounding it. The shoebills can feed on baby crocodiles, lizards and other huge fish like catfish and lungfish. However, while in the swampy areas they stay on the water surface being as patient and calm as possible as they wait to spot some prey. This can be attributed to the speed at which they flap their large wings which are about 150 times per every minute as compared to other birds which can be 500 times in one minute. Whenever they fly, the shoebills do not go over a long distance while still flying. The wings of a shoebill have a length of about 2.5 meters. Can A Shoebill Fly?ĭespite the large size of the Shoebill, a shoebill can fly whenever it wants to. Both parents, the male and female, share the duty of taking care of their young ones. ![]() Their nests can be up to eight feet wide with the females laying about two eggs at the closure of the rainy period. Since their habitat is the swampy area, that is still where their breeding process takes place. These birds like being on their own and it’s quite rare to see a large group of them. The shoebills are said to be fully grown and mature once they attain three or four years. Shoebills live for approximately 36 years. South Luangwa National Park How Long Do Shoebills Live?
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