Bird Guide

Great Snipe vs Latham's Snipe

Great Snipe (Gallinago media)

Great Snipe

Gallinago media

Medium170 gWetland

At 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. The body is mottled brown on top and barred underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye. The wings are broad, and a pale wingbar is visible in flight. The voice is described as a faint yeah. Mating display calls of groups can be heard at long distances (more than 300 m (330 yd)) and sound like a mixture of firecracker wind-up xylophone sounds.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Great Snipe
Recorded by Robert Petersen · Song · Knivbergavägen, Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: konstantinseliverstov · CC BY 4.0
Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii)

Latham's Snipe

Gallinago hardwickii

Medium151 gUrban

The snipe is 29–33 cm long, with a wingspan of 50–54 cm and weight of 150–230 g. It is identifiable as a Gallinago snipe by its cryptically-patterned black, brown, buff and white plumage. However, in the field it is not easily distinguished from Swinhoe's snipe and the pin-tailed snipe, though it is slightly larger.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Great Snipe and Latham's Snipe.