Other Scientific Names
Chionis alba [Stotz et al. (1996)], Chionis alba [Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993)], Chionis alba [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)], Chionis alba [BirdLife International (2004)]
Other Names (World)
Snowy Sheathbill, Greater Sheathbill, American Sheathbill, Yellow-billed Sheathbill, Wattled Sheathbill, Kelp Pigeon, Rock Pigeon, Sore-eyed Pigeon, Snowdrop, Snowy Paddy, Pale-faced Sheathbill
Habitat
At seabird colonies, especially those of penguins, but occasionally those of cormorants and albatrosses, and also at seal rookeries and haul-outs.
Antarctica (B), Argentina, Chile, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (B).
Vagrant to Brazil, St Helena, Uruguay (NB).
Breeds on the Antarctic Peninsula (Antarctica), and along the Scotia Arc on the South Shetland Islands, Elephant Island, the South Orkney Islands and South Georgia (Georgia del Sur) and the South Sandwich Islands. It is a non-breeding migrant to the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Tierra del Fuego (Chile and Argentina) and Patagonia (Argentina), with some birds wandering further north.
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus) [XC21529]
by Bernabe Lopez-Lanus from Waterboat Point, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Antarctica (call, mating call)
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus) [XC854739]
by Michael Hurben from Port Lockroy, Antarctica (?)
Nest
Simple, cup-shaped, composed of tussock grass, algae, moss, smal bones, egg-shells, small pebbles, limpet shells and feathers, unlined, and usually strewn over with bits of decayed food and other refuse, on the ground, ocasionally in burrows of petrels and prions, usually near water. In colonies of penguins or shags.
Eggs (Guide)
1 - 4, usually 2 - 3; cream or off-white, speckled grey and brown, denser at the larger end; pyriform; 54 - 61 x 37 - 41 mm. Incubation: about 28 days; by both parents.
Young
Precocial, nidicolous. Fledge in 50 - 60 days. Fed and guarded by both parents.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet