Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre. Balaeniceps rex, a large, prehistoric-looking bird native to central and eastern Africa, particularly found in the swamps and wetlands of countries such as Uganda, South Sudan, and Zambia. It has a massive, shoe-shaped bill, grey-blue plumage, long legs, and can stand over a metre tall. Shoebills are solitary, slow-moving hunters that primarily feed on fish, especially lungfish and catfish. They can remain completely motionless for hours while waiting to ambush prey, earning them the nickname 'statue bird'. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are actually quite shy.