About the 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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Adults are 25–27 cm (9.8–10.6 in) in length with a 44–47 cm (17–19 in) wingspan and a weight of 80–140 g (2.8–4.9 oz) (up to 180 g (6.3 oz) pre-migration). They have short greenish-grey legs and a very long (5.5–7 cm (2.2–2.8 in)) straight dark bill. The body is mottled brown with straw-yellow stripes on top and pale underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye, with light stripes above and below it. The wings are pointed. The common snipe is the most widespread of several similar snipes. It most closely resembles the Wilson's snipe (G.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Common Snipe sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Mexico, Liberia, Zambia, Turkmenistan, Equatorial Guinea, Guadeloupe, Maldives, North Korea.
When to see it
Peak activity in April · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicataAdults are 23–28 cm (9.1–11.0 in) in length with a 39–45 cm (15–18 in) wingspan.
Latham's SnipeGallinago hardwickiiThe snipe is 29–33 cm long, with a wingspan of 50–54 cm and weight of 150–230 g.
Great SnipeGallinago mediaAt 26–30 cm (10–12 in) in length and a 42–50 cm (17–20 in) wingspan, adults are only slightly larger, but much bulkier, than the common snipe and have a shorter bill.
Side by side: Common Snipe vs Wilson's Snipe
Learn the Common Snipe for real
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