Snowy Sheathbill

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Snowy Sheathbill
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Chionididae
Genus: Chionis
Species: C. albus
Binomial name
Chionis albus
Gmelin, 1789
Synonyms
  • Chionis alba Gmelin, 1789
  • Vaginalis alba [2] Gmelin, 1789

The Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), also known as the Greater Sheathbill, Pale-faced Sheathbill, and Paddy, is one of two species of sheathbill. It is usually found on the ground. It is Antarctica's only land bird.[3]

Description

A Snowy Sheathbill is about 380–410 mm (15–16 in) long, with a wingspan of 760–800 mm (30–31 in). It is pure white except for its pink, warty face; its Latin name translates to "snow white".[4]

Range

The Snowy Sheathbill lives in Antarctica, the Scotia Arc, the South Orkneys, and South Georgia. Snowy Sheathbills living very far south migrate north in winter.[3]

Feeding

The Snowy Sheathbill does not have webbed feet. It finds its food on the land. It is an omnivore, a scavenger, and a kleptoparasite. It steals krill and fish from penguins and sometimes eats their eggs and down-covered chicks. It also eats carrion, animal feces, and, where available, human waste. It has been known to eat tapeworms that have been living in a Chinstrap Penguin's intestine.[4]

Gallery

  • Snowy Sheathbills.jpg
  • Pochwodziob (js).jpg
  • Pochwodziob2 (js).jpg
  • Snowy Sheathbill.jpg

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Chionis albus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 
  2. ↑ The Internet Bird Collection. "Pale-faced Sheathbill (Chionis alba)". 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Briggs, Mike; Briggs, Peggy (2004). The Encyclopedia of World Wildlife. Parragon Publishing. ISBN 1-4054-3679-4. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lynch, Wayne (September 26, 2001). The Scoop on Poop. Fifth House Books. ISBN 1-894004-59-0. 
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