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Snowy Sheathbill

Chionis albus

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernVertebratesMarineCavity nestLarge · 676 g
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), photo 1
Photo: Ingvild Riska · CC BY 4.0
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), photo 2
Photo: Ingvild Riska · CC BY 4.0
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), photo 3
Photo: lwolfartist · CC BY 2.0
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), photo 4
Photo: Julia Ariadna · CC0
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), photo 5
Photo: Julia Ariadna · CC0
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), photo 6
Photo: Hugo Hulsberg · CC0
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), photo 7
Photo: lwolfartist · CC BY 2.0
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), photo 8
Photo: lwolfartist · CC BY 2.0
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), photo 9
Photo: Ingvild Riska · CC BY 4.0
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), photo 10
Photo: Ingvild Riska · CC BY 4.0

ID tip

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". Sheathbills spend 86% of their day hunting for food and the other 14% resting.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Snowy Sheathbill

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 9 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Snowy Sheathbill

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 5 countries with regular records, and 2 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Argentina Falkland Islands Chile Uruguay South Africa

Recorded as a rare visitor in Brazil, Zimbabwe.

About the Snowy Sheathbill

The snowy sheathbill, 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 the only land bird native to the Antarctic continent.

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

Easily confused with

Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor) Black-faced SheathbillChionis minorThey are dumpy, short-necked, pigeon-like birds with white plumage, black bills, caruncles and facial skin.

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