Snowy Sheathbill
Snowy SheathbillSnowy SheathbillSnowy SheathbillSnowy Sheathbill

Snowy Sheathbill

Chionis albus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Table Mountain National Park
12 Verified records at Table Mountain National Park
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The snowy sheathbill (Chionis albus), also known as the greater sheathbill, pale-faced sheathbill, and paddy, is one of two species of sheathbill. It is usually found on the ground. It is the only land bird native to the Antarctic continent. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Snowy Sheathbill sighting in Table Mountain National Park, based on 12 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Table Mountain National Park

Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

40–50% · Likely
Hartlaub's Gull

Hartlaub's Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus hartlaubii

30–40% · Possible
African Black Oystercatcher
LC

African Black Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus moquini

20–30% · Possible
Crested Tern
LC

Crested Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalasseus bergii

20–30% · Possible
Blacksmith Lapwing
LC

Blacksmith Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus armatus

10–20% · With luck
Common Tern
LC

Common Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sterna hirundo

5–10% · With luck
Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalasseus sandvicensis

5–10% · With luck
Spotted Thick-knee
LC

Spotted Thick-knee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Burhinus capensis

<5% · Rare
Upland Sandpiper
LC

Upland Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bartramia longicauda

<5% · Rare
Grey-hooded Gull

Grey-hooded Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

<5% · Rare
Greater Painted-Snipe
LC

Greater Painted-Snipe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rostratula benghalensis

Insufficient data
Whimbrel
LC

Whimbrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius phaeopus

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
10–20
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Península Valdés 🇦🇷 Argentina
50–60%
2 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
3 Tierra del Fuego National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
<5%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Snowy Sheathbill in Table Mountain National Park?

About 4% of wildlife watchers report a Snowy Sheathbill sighting in Table Mountain National Park, based on 12 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Snowy Sheathbill in Table Mountain National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Snowy Sheathbill in Table Mountain National Park in our monthly data.

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