A side view of Shoebill 's head. It has a large beak. You can see feathers on the back of its head that appear to be reversed.

Welcome to Shoebill Research Lab!

Let's learn about and protect Shoebill!

Shoebill is often called the "bird that doesn't move." Do you know what kind of bird it is?

The "Shoebill Research Lab" provides detailed information about Shoebill.

Let's think together about what we can do to protect the future of Shoebill.

Welcome to the Shoebill Research Lab. This is a fictional online research lab dedicated to observing and studying Shoebill kept at Ueno Zoo. One of our goals is to increase the number of people who want to help protect the future of Shoebill by conducting research at the zoo and sharing information about their lives in the wild.

Learn about this unique bird through quizzes and explanations, and aim to become Shoebill expert!

Observing animals in person, not just online, can lead to new discoveries. Please try observing them at Ueno Zoo!

Aim to become Shoebill expert!

Shoebill standing outdoors

Basic Edition

Apprentice Researcher Course: Learn the basics of Shoebill!
Shoebill standing with an outdoor pond in the background.

Intermediate version (in preparation)

Researcher Course: Let's delve deeper into the life of Shoebill! (To be released around July 2026)

Upper body of Shoebill, photographed from the side.

Advanced version (in preparation)

Doctoral Course: Let's learn about the current situation of Shoebill and think about what we can do to protect them! (To be released around November 2026)

Livng Things Encyclopedia

Shoebill

Ueno Zoo has four Shoebill: one male and three females.

Each bird can be distinguished by the color and number of rings on its right leg. The patterns (spotting) and size of their beaks also differ from bird to bird. Let's compare them.

Asante (female)

The tip of its beak is slightly curved.

There is a yellow ring on the right foot.

The head of Shoebill, photographed from the front.
The feet of Shoebill. A yellow ring is attached to the left foot (from the viewer's perspective).

Sana (female)

It does not have any spots (patterns) on its beak.

There is a single blue ring on the right foot.

The head of Shoebill, photographed from the front.
The feet of Shoebill. A blue ring is attached to the left foot (from the viewer's perspective).

Millie (female)

The dots (patterns) on the left half of the beak are connected in a chain.

There is a green ring on the right foot.

The head of Shoebill, photographed almost from the front.
The feet of Shoebill. A green ring is attached to the left foot.

Hatuwe (male)

This is the largest individual, both in body size and beak.

There are two yellow rings on the right foot.

The head of Shoebill, photographed from the front.
The feet of Shoebill. Two yellow rings are attached to the left foot (from the viewer's perspective).

Here are some past articles about Shoebill that were published on Ueno Zoo official website.

Web page article

March 2018: Shoebill "Shushu Rutanga" passed away.
September 2013: Renovation work on Shoebill enclosure, and subsequent events.
June 2007: Ugandan Ambassador visits the park; Shoebill Exhibition currently underway to great acclaim.
June 2003: Preparing Shoebill stork nest.

movie

June 2018: Does Shoebill move? Or not?
August 2005: Shoebill
March 2003: Shoebill

In April 2026, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government created Shoebill character based on four Shoebill from Ueno Zoo.

Please watch this promotional video featuring Shoebill character, produced by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.