Gallinago for ID (Portugal - December 2019) (1 Viewer)

[Miguel Berkemeier]

Hi!
Is it a G. gallinago? Or could it be a delicata?
Thanks

 

[Butty]

Wilson's snipe G. delicata is an American species, hugely rare in the Old World, extremely similar to common snipe, and there is zero chance of identifying one from photos of this quality.

 

[Miguel Berkemeier]

Ok, thanks for your feedback!
By the way, G. delicata is very common in Azores (Portugal)

 

[Butty]

I could easily believe that all records of snipe on the Azores are Wilson's snipe - but we may have different definitions of 'very common'.

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Hi!
Is it a G. gallinago? Or could it be a delicata?
Thanks

It certainly could be delicata. Would be good to get some better pictures but looks quite possible. The way it stands out from the rest shows it’s not camera effect.

 

[Butty]

The way it stands out from the rest . . .

. . . apart from the other 4? that also appear to have dark underwing-coverts.

 

[njlarsen]

I think goes back to: where in Portugal was this?
Niels

 

[Miguel Berkemeier]

I could easily believe that all records of snipe on the Azores are Wilson's snipe - but we may have different definitions of 'very common'.

Actually the common snipe is much more common and resident there. But there are also a lot of Wilson's snipe records!

 

[Miguel Berkemeier]

It certainly could be delicata. Would be good to get some better pictures but looks quite possible. The way it stands out from the rest shows it’s not camera effect.

Unfortunately I don't have better pictures, but thanks for the feedback!

 

[Miguel Berkemeier]

I think goes back to: where in Portugal was this?
Niels

It was in Castelo Branco (in the mainland, not Azores)
I know it wouldn't be probable to be a delicata, but I was curious about the dark under the wings