The Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor), also known as the Lesser Sheathbill or Paddy, is one of only two species of sheathbills, aberrant shorebirds which are terrestrial scavengers of subantarctic islands.

Description

Dumpy, short-necked, pigeon-like birds with white plumage, black bills, caruncles and facial skin. Measurements: length 38-41 cm; wingspan 74-79 cm; weight (male) 530-610 g, (female) 460-530 g.

Distribution

Restricted to subantarctic islands in the southern Indian Ocean: the South African territory of the Prince Edward Islands, the French territories of the Crozet Islands and Kerguelen Islands, and the Australian territory of Heard Island. The birds on Heard Island comprise an endemic subspecies, Chionis minor nasicornis.

Habitat

Coastlines and intertidal zones of subantarctic islands, especially around seabird and seal colonies, as well as the vicinity of human habitation.

Food

Sheathbills are opportunistic omnivores, predators and scavengers, feeding on strandline debris, algae and other vegetation, as well as on invertebrates, fish, seabird eggs and chicks, seal milk, blood, placentas, carrion, faeces, mice and human refuse.

Voice

Loud, high-pitched, strident and staccato calls.

Breeding

Nests in crevices, caves and under boulders on untidy piles of vegetation and debris from seabird and seal colonies. Clutch usually 2-3 creamy-white eggs, blotched or speckled brown. Incubation period c.30 days. Young semi-precocial and nidicolous; fledging c.50 days after hatching; breeding at 3-5 years.

Conservation

At risk from scavenging toxic wastes and from introduced predators such as feral cats, but large, scattered range with no evidence of significant overall population decline leads to conservation status assessment of Least Concern.