Photo: Gordon Leggett / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Snowy Sheathbill
Chionis albus
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Antarctica.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus) is a member of the Chionidae family found in Antarctica. Adults weigh 676 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Chionidae Sheathbills
- Genus Chionis
- Species albus
Where it lives
Antarctic Pen. and satellites, South Shetland, South Orkney, and South Georgia is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 676 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Chionidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Snowy Sheathbill is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Snowy Sheathbill is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus) is a species of bird in the Chionidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Antarctica. Its distribution covers AN Antarctic Pen. and satellites, South Shetland, South Orkney, and South Georgia is.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 676 g, with a wing length of about 24.6 cm and a tail of around 10.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 30,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Snowy Sheathbill?
The Snowy Sheathbill is a large bird that weighs around 676 g.
Where does the Snowy Sheathbill live?
The Snowy Sheathbill is found across Antarctica with a range covering AN Antarctic Pen. and satellites, South Shetland, South Orkney, and South Georgia is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Snowy Sheathbill belong to?
The Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus) belongs to the Chionidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Snowy Sheathbill eat?
The Snowy Sheathbill is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Snowy Sheathbill migrate?
The Snowy Sheathbill is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Snowy Sheathbill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Snowy Sheathbill make?
1 real field recording of the Snowy Sheathbill — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Snowy Sheathbill's range?
The Snowy Sheathbill has a mapped global range of about 30,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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