About the Wilson's Snipe
Wilson's snipe is a small, stocky shorebird. The generic name Gallinago is Neo-Latin for a woodcock or snipe from Latin gallina, "hen" and the suffix -ago, "resembling". The specific name delicata is Latin for "dainty".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Adults are 23–28 cm (9.1–11.0 in) in length with a 39–45 cm (15–18 in) wingspan. Weight ranges from 2.8–5.2 oz (79–147 g). They have short greenish-grey legs and a very long straight dark bill. The body is mottled brown on top and pale underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye, with light stripes above and below it. The wings are pointed. Carey, Geoff and Urban Olsson (1995). Field identification of Common, Wilson's, Pintail and Swinhoe's Snipes. Birding World 8(5): 179–190. Leader, Paul (1999). Identification forum: Common Snipe and Wilson's Snipe Birding World 12(9): 371–4.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Wilson's Snipe sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Finland, Norway, France, Greenland, Spain.
When to see it
Peak activity in April · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoAdults 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).
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 Wilson's Snipe for real
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