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[[Image:Common_Snipe.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by IanF <P> Dormans pool, Billingham]] | [[Image:Common_Snipe.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by IanF <P> Dormans pool, Billingham]] | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Brown back with creamy stripes. Striped head with cream central stripe. White belly, barred flanks.Long bill. | + | Brown back with creamy stripes. Striped head with cream central stripe. White belly, barred flanks. Long bill. |
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | European birds winter in southern Europe and Africa, and | + | European birds winter in southern [[Europe]] and [[Africa]], and [[Asia]]n migrants move to tropical southern Asia |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | There are two other races of Common Snipe; G. g. faeroeensis in Iceland, the | + | There are two other races of Common Snipe; G. g. faeroeensis in [[Iceland]], the [[Faroe Islands]], [[Shetland]], and [[Orkney]], and G. g. gallinago in the rest of the Old World. The latter is a species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. |
| + | |||
| + | [[Wilson's Snipe]] is the [[North America]]n counterpart of this species; these two have until recently been considered one species, before they were split. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows in Iceland, the Faroes, northern Europe and Russia. Common Snipe nest in a well-hidden location on the ground. | The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows in Iceland, the Faroes, northern Europe and Russia. Common Snipe nest in a well-hidden location on the ground. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
This well camouflaged bird is usually shy and conceals itself close to ground vegetation and flushes only when approached closely. They fly off in a series of aerial zig-zags to confuse predators. Snipe hunters, therefore, needed to be very skilled to hunt these birds and they came to be called snipers - a term later adopted by the military. | This well camouflaged bird is usually shy and conceals itself close to ground vegetation and flushes only when approached closely. They fly off in a series of aerial zig-zags to confuse predators. Snipe hunters, therefore, needed to be very skilled to hunt these birds and they came to be called snipers - a term later adopted by the military. | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | Chipper Chipper | + | The song has been described as "Chipper Chipper" |
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''[[Media:Gallinago gallinago (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Gallinago gallinago (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| + | *A thread describing the differences between this species and [[Wilson's Snipe]] is found [[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=100998 here]] | ||
{{GSearch|Gallinago+gallinago}} | {{GSearch|Gallinago+gallinago}} | ||
*[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=1186&Bird_Image_ID=192&Bird_Family_ID=130 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages] | *[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=1186&Bird_Image_ID=192&Bird_Family_ID=130 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages] | ||
[[Category:Birds]] | [[Category:Birds]] | ||
Revision as of 02:39, 14 November 2007
- Gallinago gallinago
Identification
Brown back with creamy stripes. Striped head with cream central stripe. White belly, barred flanks. Long bill.
Distribution
European birds winter in southern Europe and Africa, and Asian migrants move to tropical southern Asia
Taxonomy
There are two other races of Common Snipe; G. g. faeroeensis in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Shetland, and Orkney, and G. g. gallinago in the rest of the Old World. The latter is a species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Wilson's Snipe is the North American counterpart of this species; these two have until recently been considered one species, before they were split.
Habitat
The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows in Iceland, the Faroes, northern Europe and Russia. Common Snipe nest in a well-hidden location on the ground.
Behaviour
This well camouflaged bird is usually shy and conceals itself close to ground vegetation and flushes only when approached closely. They fly off in a series of aerial zig-zags to confuse predators. Snipe hunters, therefore, needed to be very skilled to hunt these birds and they came to be called snipers - a term later adopted by the military.
The song has been described as "Chipper Chipper"
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Gallinago gallinago (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
External Links
- A thread describing the differences between this species and Wilson's Snipe is found [here]
