Common snipe

The common snipe is a small, stocky wader native to the Old World, where it breeds in marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows. It is usually shy and well-camouflaged, foraging in soft mud mainly for insects and earthworms but also some plant material. During courtship, males perform a "winnowing" display; flying high in circles and then taking shallow dives to produce a "drumming" sound by vibrating the tail feathers.

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Distribution

Region

Palearctic

Typical Environment

Breeds widely across temperate to subarctic Eurasia, from Iceland and the British Isles through northern and central Europe into Siberia. In the non-breeding season it migrates to southern Europe, North and sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and parts of Southeast Asia. Prefers marshes, bogs, wet meadows, fens, and the edges of shallow freshwater bodies with dense cover. Often uses agricultural wetlands, rice paddies, and damp pastures during migration and winter.

Altitude Range

0–3000 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size23–28 cm

Wing Span39–45 cm

Male Weight0.1 kg

Female Weight0.12 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Common snipe are masters of camouflage, relying on mottled plumage and freezing behavior to avoid detection until they flush in a startling zigzag flight. Males create a distinctive 'winnowing' or 'drumming' sound in display flights as air vibrates the outer tail feathers during shallow dives. They probe soft mud with a highly sensitive, flexible-tipped bill in a rapid 'sewing-machine' motion. Their erratic flight has long challenged birders and hunters alike.

Gallery

Egg

Common Snipe at Chilika, Odisha

Behaviour

Temperament

shy and cryptic

Flight Pattern

explosive flush with short rapid wingbeats and zigzagging getaway; capable of swift, direct flight

Social Behavior

Generally solitary or in loose groups when feeding; more gregarious on migration and in winter roosts. Nests on the ground in dense vegetation; clutch typically four eggs. Males perform aerial display flights and may court multiple females, while females undertake most incubation and brood care.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

Vocal calls include a sharp, rasping 'scaap' when flushed. The iconic non-vocal 'drumming' or 'winnowing' is produced in display flights as air vibrates the outer tail feathers, creating a haunting, tremulous sound over marshes.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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