How big is a Black-faced Sheathbill?

The Black-faced Sheathbill is a large sized bird weighing about 494 g.

Where can you see a Black-faced Sheathbill?

The Black-faced Sheathbill is endemic to South Africa, which is the only country where it occurs.

What birds look similar to a Black-faced Sheathbill?

The Black-faced Sheathbill is most easily confused with the Snowy Sheathbill.

Is the Black-faced Sheathbill endangered?

The Black-faced Sheathbill is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Black-faced Sheathbill

Chionis minor

Sheathbills · Charadriiformes · Legendary

The Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor) is a legendary sheathbill found only in South Africa, weighing about 494 g. The black-faced sheathbill, also called the lesser sheathbill or paddy bird, is one of only two species of sheathbills, aberrant shorebirds which are terrestrial (land) scavengers of subantarctic islands.

Least ConcernLegendaryEndemicEats vertebratesmarinecavity nest494 g

Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor), photo 1 — Photo: eloise kerroux · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor), photo 2 — Photo: eloise kerroux · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor), photo 3 — Photo: Warwick, Heath · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor), photo 4 — Photo: NHM · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor), photo 5 — Photo: NHM · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor), photo 6 — Photo: eloise kerroux · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor), photo 7 — Photo: eloise kerroux · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor), photo 8 — Photo: eloise kerroux · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor), photo 9 — Photo: NHM · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor), photo 10 — Photo: NHM · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

About the Black-faced Sheathbill

The black-faced sheathbill, also called the lesser sheathbill or paddy bird, is one of only two species of sheathbills, aberrant shorebirds which are terrestrial (land) scavengers of subantarctic islands.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

They are dumpy, short-necked, pigeon-like birds with white plumage, black bills, caruncles and facial skin. This species measures 38–41 cm (15–16 in) in length, 74–79 cm (29–31 in) in wingspan and weighs 460–730 g (1.01–1.61 lb), with males being slightly larger than females. Voice: Loud, high-pitched, strident and staccato calls.

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, April, May, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Snowy SheathbillChionis albus

Quick questions

How do you identify a Black-faced Sheathbill?: They are dumpy, short-necked, pigeon-like birds with white plumage, black bills, caruncles and facial skin. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Black-faced Sheathbill?: The Black-faced Sheathbill is a large sized bird weighing about 494 g.
Where can you see a Black-faced Sheathbill?: The Black-faced Sheathbill is endemic to South Africa, which is the only country where it occurs.
What birds look similar to a Black-faced Sheathbill?: The Black-faced Sheathbill is most easily confused with the Snowy Sheathbill.
Is the Black-faced Sheathbill endangered?: The Black-faced Sheathbill is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Black-faced Sheathbill for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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