About the Latham's Snipe
Latham's snipe, also Japanese 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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in New Zealand, Taiwan, Malaysia.
When to see it
Peak activity in January · a winter visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
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.
African SnipeGallinago nigripennisThis 30–32 cm (12–13 in) long snipe has a stocky body and relatively short legs for a wader.
Pin-tailed SnipeGallinago stenuraThis 25–27 cm long bird is similar to the longer-billed and longer-tailed common snipe.
Learn the Latham's Snipe for real
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