Birds
Black-faced Sheathbill
Chionis minor · also called lesser sheathbill
Marked by extensive bare, dark, warty skin across its face, a black-faced sheathbill scavenges around sub-Antarctic seabird and seal colonies, restricted to a smaller range of islands than its more widespread all-white relative, the snowy sheathbill.
Overview
The black-faced sheathbill, Chionis minor, is a ground-based scavenger native to coastal and polar habitat on a limited number of sub-Antarctic islands. Its distinctive dark, warty facial skin, unwebbed scavenging feet, and more restricted range compared with its close relative make it one of the more geographically confined seabirds found anywhere in the Southern Ocean.
A close relative with a very different face
While closely related to the widespread, all-white snowy sheathbill, the black-faced sheathbill wears its identity plainly in its name, its extensive dark, warty facial skin offering an easy way to tell the two closely related scavengers apart at a glance.
Status
Near Threatened, restricted to a small number of sub-Antarctic islands where localised threats such as introduced predators pose an ongoing concern.
Black-faced Sheathbill: common questions
How is the black-faced sheathbill different from the snowy sheathbill?
This species has extensive areas of bare, dark, warty skin covering its face, a feature far more pronounced than in its close relative the snowy sheathbill, and it also occupies a more restricted range of sub-Antarctic islands.
Why does the black-faced sheathbill have unwebbed feet?
This species has unwebbed feet with strong claws, reflecting its ground-based scavenging lifestyle rather than a swimming or diving one, unlike most other seabirds found in the same sub-Antarctic habitat.
What does the black-faced sheathbill eat?
This species is an omnivorous scavenger eating carrion, seabird eggs and chicks, invertebrates, and algae, along with waste scavenged from seal and penguin colonies.
Why is the black-faced sheathbill considered Near Threatened?
This species is restricted to a small number of sub-Antarctic islands, and localised threats such as introduced predators have contributed to its Near Threatened classification despite its adaptable, generalist diet.