snowy sheathbill

The snowy sheathbill, also known as Chionis alba, is one of two species of sheathbills, which are Antarctic shorebirds belonging to the family Chionididae. These birds are unique as they are the only avian family exclusively found in the south polar regions.1

Sheathbills are characterized by their white plumage, stout bills covered by a horny sheath, and stout legs. They exhibit behaviors similar to both gulls and shorebirds, and when unthreatened, they can be quite tame, approaching human camps like chickens.1

Their diet is varied and aggressive. They prey on the eggs and young of penguins, petrels, and terns, and also scavenge for food around seals and whaling stations. Outside of breeding seasons, they consume intertidal creatures and algae. Sheathbills are known for their sociability, though they can be quarrelsome, using sharp shin spurs in fights. They lay two to three eggs in a nest made of litter, typically in a rock crevice. The snowy sheathbill is about 40 cm (16 inches) long and has a yellow bill.1