Latham's snipe

Latham's snipe is a medium-sized, long-billed, migratory snipe of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. The origin of the bird's common name is not clear. John Latham was a well-known English physician and ornithologist in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and had a great interest in Australasian birds. However, he had no apparent connection with the snipe named after him.

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Distribution

Region

East Asian–Australasian Flyway

Typical Environment

Breeds in northern Japan and parts of the Russian Far East in marshes, bogs, sedge meadows, and damp grasslands. During migration and on the non-breeding grounds it frequents freshwater wetlands, flooded pastures, coastal swales, and rice fields in eastern and southeastern Australia, including Tasmania. It favors dense cover near shallow water with soft substrates for probing. Outside the breeding season it often uses agricultural wetlands and ephemeral pools created by rainfall.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1800 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size27–30 cm

Wing Span42–50 cm

Male Weight0.17 kg

Female Weight0.19 kg

Life Expectancy7 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Latham's snipe undertakes long overwater flights between Japan/Russian Far East breeding grounds and non-breeding sites in eastern Australia. It is famously cryptic, relying on mottled plumage and freezing behavior to avoid detection until flushing in a zig-zag burst. Males perform aerial display flights that produce a distinctive winnowing or drumming sound with their tail feathers. The common name’s link to John Latham is traditional but not definitively explained.

Gallery

Latham's snipe at Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and wary

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with zig-zag escape when flushed; strong long-distance flier on migration

Social Behavior

Typically solitary or in loose groups, especially at foraging sites during migration. Nests are placed on the ground in dense vegetation; pairs are secretive near the nest. Males conduct aerial display flights over territories during the breeding season.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

Usually quiet, giving sharp, rasping calls when flushed. During display flights, produces a distinctive winnowing or drumming sound generated by air passing over spread outer tail feathers.

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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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