From Opus

Photo by John Keep
Near Kotu Stream, the Gambia

Rostratula benghalensis

[edit] Identification

Female with much brown, male much greyer.

[edit] Similar species

Large eye, and in female the uniform brown of head and neck separates from most other snipe-like species.

[edit] Distribution

Locally in Africa, Madagascar and Asia.

Photo by Dave 2x
Thailand, August 2012

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies

This is a monotypic species.

It was formerly considered conspecific with Australian Painted-snipe.

[edit] Habitat

Marshes and other vegetated wetlands, both permanent and seasonal.

[edit] Behaviour

Looks labored on the wings. Voice is often heard after dark.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
2. Avibase

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages