Shoebill
The shoebill (or Balaeniceps rex), also known as the shoe-billed stork, whale-headed stork or whalebill, is a large, solitary wading bird that inhabits tropical East African freshwater swamps. It prefers areas with stagnant, low-oxygen water; conditions that slow fish movement and make hunting easier.
The shoebill has a tall, blue-grey body, broad wings and a huge, shoe-shaped bill with a hooked tip, which it uses to catch large fish.
Adults stand 1.1m to 1.5m tall and have a wingspan of 2.3m to 2.6m. Despite their height, they are relatively light birds, usually weighing 4kg to 7kg, with some large males approaching 7.5kg. Shoebills show subtle sexual dimorphism: females are slightly smaller and lighter, and males have bulkier bills and are taller on average.
Balaeniceps rex
Habitat needs
Space is stored as a minimum plus an amount per additional adult; the game's help adds that juveniles don't count. Plan a mixed habitat in the habitat planner.
Dislikes snow.
Terrain
| Terrain | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Grass | 20% | 80% |
| Sand | 0% | 80% |
| Waterlogged | 20% | 100% |
| Rock | 0% | 20% |
| Soil | 20% | 80% |
Share of the habitat's terrain.
Shares a cohabitation group with 1
African wetland group
Cohabitation groups are the game's own sets of species for mixed habitats. Check space, terrain and temperature for a group in the habitat planner.
Barriers with resistance grade 2 or higher 14
- 1-Way Glass grade 2 · $1
- Chain Link grade 2 · $1 · climbable
- Corrugated grade 2 · $1
- Rope Netting grade 2 · $2 · climbable
- Glass grade 3 · $2
- Wire Netting grade 3 · $2 · climbable
- Wood Logs grade 3 · $2 · climbable
- Acrylic grade 4 · $3
- Steel Mesh grade 4 · $3 · climbable
- Thick Glass grade 4 · $3
- Brick grade 5 · $4
- Concrete grade 5 · $4
- Gabion grade 5 · $4 · climbable
- Electric grade 6 · $0.80
At least 1 m high. No water barrier. Grades are the ones the game's barrier tooltips state.
Enrichment it uses 6
- Mirror Mobile Toy · score 150 · $100
- Platform Floats Toy · score 150 · $200
- Rubber Chicken Toy · score 50 · $100
- Small Ball Toy · score 100 · $100
- Plant Pot Toy · score 100 · $100
- Rubber Snake Toy · score 150 · $100
Enrichment target: toys 100 + 100 per additional adult; feeders 10 + 10 per additional adult.
Food, life and breeding
- Food
- Whole Fish + Amphibians
- Food / drink amount
- 1 / 0.5
- Food cost, grade 1 / 2 / 3
- $714 / $1,012 / $1,012
- Feeders
- Food Tray - Large, Food Tray - Small, Block of Frozen Fish, Dog Ball, Forage Pool, Bamboo Feeder
- Lifespan
- 25–37 yr
- Mature / prime / old / elderly
- 4 yr / 8 yr / 16 yr / 23 yr
- Gestation / between births
- 0 yr / 1 yr
- Litter
- 1–2
- Fertility
- 0.2
- Mating system
- Monogamous
- Breeds in
- Summer
- Nest
- Water platform large
- Dominance
- None
- Ecosystem roles
- Predators
- Wild population
- 3,000 - 5,300
- Guests flee if it escapes
- Yes
Shoebills are solitary animals. They form seasonal pairings for breeding but otherwise live alone.
Overview
- Scientific name
- Balaeniceps rex
- Class
- Aves
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable
- Biome
- Wetlands
- Continent
- Africa
- Cohabitation groups
- African wetland group
- Content
- Base game