Snowy Sheathbill
Encyclopedia
The Snowy Sheathbill also known as a Pale-faced sheathbill or Paddy is one of two species of sheathbill
. It is usually found on the ground. It is Antarctica's only permanently land-based bird.
, the South Orkneys and South Georgia. Snowy Sheathbills living very far south migrate north in winter.
. They steal krill and fish from penguins and sometimes eat their eggs and down-covered chicks. They also eat carrion, feces, auks, invertebrates and, where available, human waste A Snowy Sheathbill has been seen eating a tapeworm that had been living in a Chinstrap Penguin
's intestine.
Sheathbill
The sheathbills are a family of birds, Chionidae. Classified in the wader order Charadriiformes, the family contains one genus, Chionis, with only two species...
. It is usually found on the ground. It is Antarctica's only permanently land-based bird.
Description
A Snowy Sheathbill is about 15-16 inches long, with a wingspan of 30-31.5 inches. They are pure white except for their pink warty faces (Chionis albus means "snow white".)Range
The Snowy Sheathbill lives in Antarctica, the Scotia ArcScotia Arc
Scotia Arc is the island arc system forming the north, east and south border of Scotia Sea. The arc comprises submarine ridges and the island groups of South Orkneys, South Sandwich Islands, Clerke Rocks, South Georgia, Shag Rocks, Isla de los Estados, and Burwood Bank linking the mountains of...
, the South Orkneys and South Georgia. Snowy Sheathbills living very far south migrate north in winter.
Lifestyle
Because Snowy Sheathbills do not have webbed feet, they would have difficulty fishing for food. Instead, they scavenge food on land.Diet
Sheathbills are omnivores and specialize in kleptoparasitismKleptoparasitism
Kleptoparasitism or cleptoparasitism is a form of feeding in which one animal takes prey or other food from another that has caught, collected, or otherwise prepared the food, including stored food...
. They steal krill and fish from penguins and sometimes eat their eggs and down-covered chicks. They also eat carrion, feces, auks, invertebrates and, where available, human waste A Snowy Sheathbill has been seen eating a tapeworm that had been living in a Chinstrap Penguin
Chinstrap Penguin
The Chinstrap Penguin is a species of penguin which is found in the South Sandwich Islands, Antarctica, the South Orkneys, South Shetland, South Georgia, Bouvet Island and Balleny...
's intestine.