Snowy sheathbill
The only land bird native to the Antarctic continent.
The snowy sheathbill (Chionis albus)—also called the greater sheathbill, pale-faced sheathbill, or paddy—is one of only two sheathbill species. It typically stays on the ground and holds the distinction of being the only land bird native to Antarctica.
In 1789, German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin officially described the bird in his updated version of Carl Linnaeus's *Systema Naturae*, placing it in a new genus, *Vaginalis*, and naming it *Vaginalis alba*. Gmelin relied on the "white sheath-bill" described and illustrated in 1785 by English ornithologist John Latham in *A General Synopsis of Birds*. Latham mistakenly thought the bird came from New Zealand. In 1912, Baron Bradford and Charles Chubb designated the Falkland Islands as the type locality. Today, the snowy sheathbill belongs to the genus *Chionis*, introduced in 1788 by German naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster. The genus name comes from the Ancient Greek *khiōn*, meaning snow, and the species name *albus* is Latin for "white." No subspecies are recognized.
The bird measures about 380–410 mm (15–16 in) long, with a wingspan of 760–800 mm (30–31 in). Its plumage is pure white, offset by a pink, warty face; its Latin name translates to "snow white." Sheathbills spend 86% of their day foraging and the remaining 14% resting.
The snowy sheathbill inhabits Antarctica, the Scotia Arc, the South Orkneys, and South Georgia. Those living farthest south migrate north for the winter.
Lacking webbed feet, the sheathbill finds food on land. It is an omnivore, scavenger, and kleptoparasite, eating nearly anything. It steals regurgitated krill and fish from penguins feeding their chicks and will take eggs or chicks when possible. It also consumes carrion, animal feces, and, where available, human waste. It has even been known to eat tapeworms from a chinstrap penguin's intestine. When actively hunting, sheathbills spend about 38% of the day foraging, 20% eating, 23% resting, 14% on comfortable activities, and 3% on agonistic behavior.
- scientific_name
- Chionis albus
- length
- 380–410 mm (15–16 in)
- wingspan
- 760–800 mm (30–31 in)
- diet
- Omnivore, scavenger, kleptoparasite
- habitat
- Antarctica, Scotia Arc, South Orkneys, South Georgia
- conservation_status
- Not specified in source
Lore & Background
The snowy sheathbill was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it in a new genus Vaginalis and coined the binomial name Vaginalis alba. Gmelin based his description on the 'white sheath-bill' that had been described and illustrated in 1785 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his A General Synopsis of Birds. Latham erroneously believed that the bird was found in New Zealand. The type locality was designated as the Falkland Islands by Baron Bradford and Charles Chubb in 1912. The snowy sheathbill is now placed in the genus Chionis, introduced in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster. The genus name is from the Ancient Greek khiōn meaning snow; the specific epithet albus is Latin meaning 'white'. The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.
Reader's Guide
The snowy sheathbill is significant as the only land bird native to the Antarctic continent, occupying a unique ecological niche in an extreme environment. It is an omnivore, scavenger, and kleptoparasite, feeding on nearly anything, including regurgitated krill and fish stolen from penguins, penguin eggs and chicks, carrion, animal feces, human waste, and even tapeworms from chinstrap penguin intestines. Its lack of webbed feet confines its foraging to land. Sheathbills spend 86% of their day hunting for food and the other 14% resting; those actively hunting spend about 38% of the day hunting, 20% eating, 23% resting, 14% in comfortable activities, and 3% in agonistic behavior. Snowy sheathbills living very far south migrate north in winter. Its pure white plumage and pink, warty face give it a distinctive appearance, and its Latin name translates to 'snow white'.
Did You Know?
- The snowy sheathbill is the only land bird native to the Antarctic continent.
- It was originally described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789 under the name Vaginalis alba.
- John Latham, who first described the bird in 1785, erroneously believed it was found in New Zealand.
- Snowy sheathbills have been known to eat tapeworms that were living in a chinstrap penguin's intestine.
More in Birds of subantarctic islands 1-24
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