{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{No footnotes|date=January 2026}} {{Speciesbox | image = Chionis minor.JPG | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Chionis minor'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T22693567A93413079 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693567A93413079.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Chionis | species = minor | authority = Hartlaub, 1841 }} The '''black-faced sheathbill''' ('''''Chionis minor'''''), also called the '''lesser sheathbill''' or '''paddy bird''', is one of only two species of sheathbills, aberrant shorebirds which are terrestrial (land) scavengers of subantarctic islands.
==Description== They are dumpy, short-necked, pigeon-like birds with white plumage, black bills, caruncles and facial skin. This species measures {{convert|38|–|41|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length, {{convert|74|-|79|cm|in|abbr=on}} in wingspan and weighs {{convert|460|-|730|g|lb|abbr=on}}, with males being slightly larger than females.<ref name = "CRC">''CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses'' by John B. Dunning Jr. (Editor). CRC Press (1992), {{ISBN|978-0-8493-4258-5}}.</ref>
==Distribution== thumb|left|The darker-legged Crozet Islands subspecies. 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 race ''C. m. nasicornis'' is endemic to Heard Island, while the race ''C. m. marionesis'' is endemic to the Prince Edward Islands.
==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, rodents and human refuse.
==Voice== Loud, high-pitched, strident and staccato calls.
==Breeding== thumb|Egg of '' Chionis minor'' 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.
==References== thumb {{Reflist}} * BirdLife International. (2006). Species factsheet: ''Chionis minor''. Downloaded from https://web.archive.org/web/20210828092113/https://www.birdlife.org/ on 11 February 2007 * Marchant, S.; Higgins, P.J.; & Davies, J.N. (eds). (1994). ''Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 2: Raptors to Lapwings''. Oxford University Press: Melbourne. {{ISBN|0-19-553069-1}} * National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. (1987). ''The Shorebirds of Australia''. Angus & Robertson: Sydney. {{ISBN|0-207-15348-5}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q303019}} {{Authority control}}
black-faced sheathbill Category:Fauna of the Crozet Islands Category:Fauna of the Prince Edward Islands Category:Fauna of the Kerguelen Islands Category:Fauna of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Category:Birds of the Indian Ocean Category:Birds of subantarctic islands black-faced sheathbill Category:Taxa named by Gustav Hartlaub