The Snowy Sheathbill is a non - breeding resident, and annual visitor to the Falkland Islands. It is a tame pigeon-like bird with all white plumage and the only Antarctic shore-bird without webbed feet. Length: 40 cm (16 inches). Feeds by scavenging for spilled food and eggs at seabird and seal rookeries in summer and by eating limpets and green algae in winter. It is present on Falklands shores throughout the year.

Breeds on the Antarctic peninsular coast to about 65°S and islands on the Scotia Arc around South Georgia and the South Shetlands. Non- breeders are also seen on the coast of Tierra del Fuego.

Sources include: Falkland Islands State of the Environment Report 2008 Otley H, Munro G, Clausen A, Ingham B. A Field Guide to the Wildlife of The Falkland Islands and South Georgia - Ian J Strange, Guide to Birds of the Falkland Islands- Robin W. Woods.

Photographic credits: header: Jeremy Richards/ Shutterstock.com, Robert Maddocks

Photographs and Images Copyright: The images on this site have been bought under licence or have been used with the permission of their owners. They may not be copied or downloaded in any form without their owner's consent.