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Common Snipe
(Gallinago gallinago)
 German name(s): "Bekassine"
Size: 25-27 cm; wing span 44-47 cm
Weight: 80-140 g (up to 180 g pre-migration)
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Common Snipes are small waders.
Their plumage
is highly cryptic,
with colours ranging from creamy hues to dark-brown.
Most of the plumage
is brown, except for a dark-brown crown (with a ligher central
stripe), eye-stripes and cheek stripes on the head, heavy dark-brown
scalloping on the front (throat to chest) and flanks. The dark-brown
wing feathers have brown edge lining and white tips.
The belly, vent and undertail coverts are whitish and unbarred.
The eyes have dark irises. Common Snipes have a dark-tipped, long
and straight brownish bill that is about twice as long as the size
of the head. The legs and feet are yellowish-grey.
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Twitcher's tip |
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In the field, Common Snipes are very difficult to distinguish
from other species of snipes.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Common
Snipe at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the
ebird.org
website.
The global distribution of the Common Snipe is available
HERE
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There are two distinct races of Common Snipes, which are a migratory
species of waders.
Nominate race
"gallinago" breeds in Eurasia, in a range spanning from western
Europe to northern Asia.
The European population winters around the Mediterranean Sea and in
other parts of North Africa and in Asia Minor. The Asian population
migrates to tropical southern Asia.
Race "faeroeensis" breeds on islands of the northern Atlantic Ocean,
i.e. Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Shetland and Orkney. They spend the
winters in Britain and Ireland.
In Europe Common Snipes are permanent residents in an area
spanning from about northern France and southern Germany
to the British Isles and Ireland, the northern Atlantic
islands and Denmark.
They are breeding migrants to parts of Scotland, all of
eastern Europe and most of Scandinavia (except the north-eastern
part). South of about 45 degrees latitude they are found only
as winter visitors or, in much of south-eastern Europe,
on migration to their winter quarters around the Mediterranean
and Black Sea.
During the breeding season Common Snipes are usually found
in marshes, bogs and damp meadows. They have a preference
for short, dense vegetation.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "gallinago"
D. Wilczynska reports spotting a Common Snipes, nominate race
"gallinago",
in Biebrza NP, Poland, in June 2016.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this page
has kindly been contributed by D. Wilczynska.
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Photos |
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Race "gallinago"
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ADULT |
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Near-dorsal view of a Common Snipe in rank reeds (photo
courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, June 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a Common Snipe in rank reeds, now with its
heard turned (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, June 2016]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
