BirdsAroundWorld.comShoebill
Balaeniceps rex
The Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) is a bird found in Uganda. Papyrus swamps of central and eastern Africa. It eats fish, reptiles and frogs and small mammals and birds. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
See the Shoebill on the 3D globe →| Scientific name | Balaeniceps rex |
|---|---|
| Region | Africa |
| Found in | Uganda |
🏡 Where the Shoebill lives
Papyrus swamps of central and eastern Africa.
🍽️ What it eats
- 🐟 Fish70%
- 🦎 Reptiles & frogs20%
- 🐭 Mammals & birds10%
A rough guide to its diet over a year. Source: EltonTraits (Wilman et al. 2014).
Conservation status
Questions about the Shoebill
Where does the Shoebill live?
The Shoebill lives in Uganda. Papyrus swamps of central and eastern Africa.
What does the Shoebill eat?
fish (about 70%), reptiles and frogs (about 20%), small mammals and birds (about 10%). These are rough shares of its diet over a year, from the EltonTraits database.
Is the Shoebill endangered?
Getting rare. It needs our help. Its IUCN Red List category is Vulnerable.
More birds from Africa
- African pipit
- Brown-hooded kingfisher
- Village weaver
- Ascension frigatebird
- Bronze mannikin
- African paradise flycatcher
Sources: IUCN Red List (via Wikidata), EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014), GBIF sightings for countries, Wikipedia. Last updated 2026-10-19.