The homeland of the birds discussed in this article are the most swampy areas of Africa, located south of the Sahara desert.
General information
Royal heron (or shoebill) is an almost unknown and very rare bird of unique appearance. The shoebill is represented by a single, and unusual species, in connection with which it stands out in a separate family of the shoebill (order Stork-like) birds. Its relatives are herons, storks, marabou and other legged birds. Recent studies have proven its relationship with pelicans.
Most likely, this bird is a preserved link between modern birds and prehistoric ancestors of birds. Its difference from relatives is in a very massive head with a large beak equipped with a characteristic hook. The head in its width can even be slightly wider than the body of a bird, and this is not at all typical not only for modern, but also for ancient flying animals.
The shoebill is so little studied and unusual that it is one of the most mysterious and unique creatures on Earth. Being a relative of the marabou, storks, herons and pelicans in its order, the shoebill (Royal heron) has nothing in common with them even visually.
Description
The British call this bird "shoebeak". And this is not surprising, since the head of the bird, along with its beak, actually resembles a trampled shoe.
On the back of the bird's head there is a remarkable small crest. The neck of the shoebill is so thin, it's even amazing how it can support the weight of such a massive head. And the legs are very thin, and the tail, like a duck, is short. The bird is painted in modest colors: grayish plumage, yellow beak. Externally similar males and females do not have any distinguishing features.
The growth of the bird reaches one and a half meters, and its weight is 15 kilograms. With a wingspan of 2 meters, it makes a pretty impressive impression in flight.
Perhaps it is due to rather unusual external features that this bird is also called the royal heron.
Distribution, habitats
The shoebill, or king heron, is distributed in a small area of Central Africa from South Sudan to Ethiopia (west): these are Zaire, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The bird has also been seen in Botswana. Favorite places - marshy parts of the banks of the Nile (tropical regions of Africa).
Individual bird populations are small and scattered. The largest of them live in South Sudan.
Lifestyle, habits and nutrition
Kitoglav is perfectly adapted to life in marshy places. Its long paws with large, widely spaced fingers allow you to easilymove on such ground. In shallow water, the shoebill can stand motionless for quite a long time.
The king egret is most active at dawn, but sometimes it hunts during the day.
With its beak, like a net, the bird deftly scoops up frogs and fish along with the substrate and water, which is very similar to the habits of pelicans. In the process of searching for food, she diligently examines floating aquatic plants in the water. It feeds mainly on fish (catfish, tilapia and protopters), as well as snakes, frogs and even young turtles.
In the process of hunting, the shoebill behaves quite patiently. She can stand in one place for a long time with her head lowered into the water, waiting for the appearance of a fish.
Sometimes the king heron walks cautiously and slowly through the reed beds. When potential prey appears, it instantly spreads its powerful wings and rushes at the victim, trying to catch it with its huge beak. The bird first separates its catch from the plants, after which it swallows the edible part. Often, the shoebill tears its head off the fish, and then eats it.
Nesting, reproduction
The nesting period of the shoebill directly depends on the region of its habitat. For example, in Sudan, it begins immediately after the end of the rainy season. The mating behavior of birds in nature has not been studied enough. The ritual of a shoebill in captivity consists of neck extensions and nods, thuds and beak clicking.
The royal heron builds its nest from reeds and papyrus stalks. It presents in the forma huge platform with a base diameter of 2.5 meters. The nest tray is lined with dry grass.
The female usually lays up to three eggs. After about a month, chicks are born, the care of which falls equally on both parents. The chicks are first covered with a soft gray down. Although their beaks are not very large, they already have a hooked sharp tip.
Usually only one chick survives in the nest, which the parents feed on semi-digested food. At the age of 1 month, the young shoebill already feeds on larger food. Only when the chick reaches 4 months of age does it become completely independent.
In conclusion: some interesting facts
The royal heron is quite an interesting and unusual bird. Below are some interesting facts about her:
• In the heat during the nesting period, the bird uses its unusual beak as a scoop. To keep the eggs at the right temperature, she cools them with water. And she “baths” the already hatched chicks in the same way.
• The ability of birds to stand in one place for a long time without moving allows photographers to take good shots. In connection with such a feature in one of the European bird parks (Walsrode), on the information plate about the shoebill there is an inscription that says that he still moves.
