Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor) [XC287263]
by \u00c9mile Brisson-Curadeau from Jardin Japonais, Possession Island, Crozet, France (call)
Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor) [XC622686]
by Hichem MACHOUK from Ile Haute, France (?)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia. Breeds on Heard and Macquarie Islands.
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Nest
An untidy, often substantial, heap of material, with a slight hollow on the top, composed of kelp debris, grass, twigs, seed stalks, leaves, unlined, in a hidden, sheltered location, in crevices, under boulders, on ledges and in caves.
Eggs (Guide)
2 - 3; off-white with grey and brown markings more numerous at the larger end; pyriform; 50 x 63 mm. Incubation: about 30 days.
Young
Semi-precocial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 50 days.
Subspecies
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
minor Hartlaub, 1841 - Kerguelen Island.
nasicornis Reichenow, 1904 - Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
crozettensis (Sharpe, 1896) - Iles Crozet.
marionensis Reichenow, 1908 - Marion and Prince Edward Islands.
Similar Species
None as range with Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus) does not overlap.
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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