African Snipe vs Magellanic Snipe

African Snipe

Gallinago nigripennis

Medium112 gWetland

This 30–32 cm (12–13 in) long snipe has a stocky body and relatively short legs for a wader. Its upperparts, head and neck are streaked and patterned with bold dark brown stripes and gold edges to the feathers forming lines down its back. The belly is white, with some brown barring on the flanks but never on the belly. The pinkish-brown bill is very long, straight and fairly robust. The legs and feet are yellowish-olive to greenish-grey. The sexes are similar, and immatures differ only in showing pale fringes on the wing coverts.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Andrew Deacon · CC0

Magellanic Snipe

Gallinago magellanica

109 gWetland

The Magellanic snipe's face has distinct tan and darker brown stripes. Its upperparts have a complex pattern of muted whitish, buffy, rufous, and black on a brown background. Its breast has fine vermiculation and its flanks have dark and light barring. The upper surface of its tail is rufescent with irregular bars and white tips. It has a long, thick, dull pinkish bill with a black tip. Its legs are yellowish.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Galaxias79 · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: African Snipe and Magellanic Snipe.